GRTU finds alcohol sales restrictions 'draconian'

The GRTU has protested that new regulations meant to curtail the sale of alcohol are 'draconian', and it has urged the Prime Minister to intervene.

It explained in a statement that while it was against abusive in the sale of alcohol, it was unacceptable that confectioners had been told to choose between retaining their confectioners' licence, which enables them to open round the clock while renouncing the sale of alcohol, or retaining the licence to sell alcohol but being required to close by 9 p.m.

The association said licence conditions were an essential part of the value of a business and could not be changed overnight.

It proposed that confectioners should retain all their licences, but they could be banned from selling alcohol after 9 p.m. in certain localities and in particular periods of the year through by-laws issued by local councils.

The GRTU said the issue did not affect all localities in the same way and it was therefore unfair to restrict customers who previously made their purchases from confectioners whenever was convenient for them.

The GRTU said that after it wrote to the Prime Minister, his initial reply was that he would discuss the issue with the minister concerned, but he disagreed with what had been proposed. He said that abuse had brought about the need for a revision of the regulations.

The governemnt was all for facilitating business, but it would not tolerate abuse with regard to alcohol.

The GRTU said it agreed that abuse needed to be curtailed but it was an exaggeration to restrict everyone, everywhere, as a result. The retailers agreed on some restrictions, it said, but why should they have restrictions on, say, Sunday mornings, benefiting others? Similarly, the GRTU said, this amendment would restrict confectioners from selling hampers on  Mother's Day, Valentine'sDay and other occasions.