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The controversial Grocer’s Licence that is being awarded to BP and Pick n Pay Express, allowing them to sell wine at petrol garages, could be hitting Sea Point any time now.

An application for a liquor licence for the BP garage located on Regent Road at the Pick n Pay Express convenience store has been set forward.

But it is getting quite a bit of backlash, particularly from the Sea Point, Fresnaye, and Bantry Bay (SFB) Ratepayers and Residents Association, which is calling on residents to oppose the application.

According to IOL, the SFB has put out a poster that reads:

 “Do we need any more evidence against mixing alcohol with driving? The close proximity to a school, old age care and religious facilities, tourist and transport hub makes your objection even more important.”

A BP Pick n Pay Express forecourt convenience store in Johannesburg was the first to be issued a licence to trade and offer wine to-go.

Although the wine to-go option was initiated with customer convenience in mind, says BP head of convenience Belinda Petersen, there are a number of anti-drunk driving organisations worried about the problems it might cause.

Two such organisations, namely the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance in SA (SAAPA) and South Africans against Drink Driving (SADD), have called for a moratorium on the process of granting liquor licences to petrol station stores.

SADD took a stand against wine-to-go three months ago, even creating a petition on change.org, asking the government to reverse the decision.

Likewise, SAAPA is concerned that while the agreement is starting out small (just wine at select petrol stations stores), it could spiral into more troublesome territory, with fully-fledged wine and liquor stores selling all alcoholic beverages.

The application is currently open for public comment, with the closing date for comments set for September 27.

[source:iol]