Fish Hoek has lost its dry town status after the Liquor Appeal Tribunal ruled in the favour of Pick n Pay yesterday December 5.
This year not only marked Fish Hoek’s centenary but also 200 years of the town being “dry” due to the historic 1818 title deed restriction, which prohibits the sale of liquor in the area (“Bottle store application for ‘dry’ Fish Hoek”, Echo, January 16, 2017).
In June the Western Cape Liquor Authority’s licensing tribunal declined an application by Pick n Pay to open a bottle store in The Arcade, saying it was not in the interest of the public (Valley’s dry town status safe”, Echo, June 28).
However, Pick n Pay appealed the decision by the Liquor Licensing Tribunal (LLT), saying it erred in its decision to decline the application (“Dry or wet debate”, Echo, August 16).
Chairman of the Liquor Appeal Tribunal, Judge Deon van Zyl, found the LLT was mistaken in refusing the application made by Pick n Pay Fish Hoek.
Donald Moore of Dry Fish Hoek said it is a disaster for Fish Hoek and the inevitable consequence is that there will be further applications for bottle stores around the valley.
He said due to Judge van Zyl’s finding, the Liquor Authority is obliged to issue a licence to Pick n Pay within 14 days of the application.
Alison Darby of Wet Fish Hoek said it was quite a historical day and what a momentous decision.
“Congratulations to Julian, Gary and their attorneys who argued their case so diligently,” she said.
* Read the full story in the Echo next Thursday, December 13.
