Once you have been granted a Liquor Licence or Wholesale Registration in South Africa to sell or supply liquor to the public, it is imperative that you keep this licence up to date.

Specifically, this refers to the annual renewal of this Liquor Licence or Wholesale Registration.

The renewal of Liquor Licence in South Africa is required every year. In Gauteng this needs to be done on or before the anniversary date of the licence. In all other provinces, this renewal needs to be done on or before the 31st of December each year.

A Wholesale Registration needs to be completed on or before the 31st of December each year.

Failure to successfully renew your Liquor Licence or Wholesale Registration will result in the licence lapsing and you and your business no longer being allowed to sell or supply liquor to the public.

It is possible to still renew the Liquor Licence or Wholesale Registration after the deadline has passed, however the Regional Liquor Board or National Liquor Authority will impose a financial penalty on this application. Obviously, the later you apply to renew your licence, the higher the penalty. If you wait too long to apply for a renewal, the licence renewal application will be refused by the authority and you will then need to apply for a whole new Liquor Licence or Registration for that premises.

As you can see, being organised and on time is of the utmost importance. Leon Slotow Attorney and his team can ensure that not only do you never miss the deadline to renew your Liquor Licence or Wholesale Registration, but that the application is successful and granted each year.

Operating a restaurant, hotel, pub, wholesale business or similar in South Africa without a granted licence renewal is illegal, and can result in a raid by the SAPS, a financial fine and the confiscation of your liquor stock.