Salt River, Woodstock residents up in arms over BP garage liquor licence bid

SALT River and Woodstock residents' associations have rejected the sale of alcohol at petrol stations in the area, saying it would exacerbate existing alcohol-related problems.

Members of the associations demonstrated at the weekend, following an application for a liquor licence for a Pick n Pay express store at a BP garage in Salt River.

Ndoxy Radebe of the Woodstock Residents' Association said they strongly objected to the liquor licence application, which would allow offsale consumption.

“If they get a liquor licence, how can you have someone driving, and already maybe drunk, come to a filling station and become even more drunk?

“There are two schools just behind (the petrol station) where our children go.

“How can we allow such things? We object to this application and we cannot accept that,” said Radebe.

Another resident, Warda Rahim, from the Salt River Residents' Association, said they were objecting as the community was “already saturated with liquor outlets”.

“We are protesting against the granting of a liquor licence; and the reason is because we have far too many liquor outlets.

“We have one right across the road (from the petrol station) and we have two schools about 50 metres from here and we believe with alcohol comes so many problems.

“We already have so many issues which stem from, and is related to ,(alcohol consumption),” said Rahim.

Spokesperson for the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (Saapa) Terri-Liza Fortein said: “Alcohol is the most widely-used drug in South Africa and causes more harm than any other drug to consumers and non-consumers alike.”

A recent call was also made by the Sea Point, Fresnaye and Bantry Bay (SFB) Ratepayers and Residents' Association, for residents to oppose a liquor licence application at a Regent Road petrol station.

The call to action followed an announcement by bpSA that one of its petrol stations had become the first to sell wine, through a Pick n Pay Express forecourt convenience store, after being issued a licence to trade.

Enquiries sent to bpSA had not been answered by deadline yesterday.

Previous enquiries to Pick n Pay were referred to bpSA as it is the applicant for the liquor licence.

| AYANDA NDAMANE African News Agency (ANA) LANGA residents took a stand against human trafficking and gender-based violence when they marched in the area yesterday, calling for an end to crimes against women and children.