Enjoying a drink with friends late into the evening is a part of
South African culture. In Cape Town, the summer sun’s journey
down past the horizon takes forever; people leave the beaches
at dusk; the bars and restaurants in Camps Bay come alive
when the sun sets and talk in the township taverns carries on
way past midnight.
In past years, summer was the time the liquor industry
celebrated the froth on the beer, the bubbles rising in
Champagne and the high-spirited party people pushing sales.
But now, with beer sales down 30 per cent, job cuts rising and
the general state of the economy, did we need more misery?
Clearly not, but that is what the proposed liquor trading bylaw
will inflict on everyone involved in the liquor industry.
What the bylaw says is that on-consumption venues in
residential areas will be able to serve alcohol only between
11h00 and 21h00; on-consumption outlets in general business
or central business district areas will be allowed to serve
alcohol until 02h00; and establishments in mixed business
and residential areas will be able to trade until 23h00. There
are strict penalties for non-compliance with the liquor law.
The aim of the National Liquor Act and related local and
national regulations is to reduce socio-economic ills arising
from the abuse of alcohol. This is commendable. But the new
regulations will not achieve this. Proper policing of the existing
laws are sufficient to reduce the ills arising from alcohol abuse.
Visible policing and zero tolerance to traffic offences reduced
the road deaths over the year-end holidays by 40 per cent. Zero
tolerance and visible, efficient policing of reasonable existing
laws works – it worked in New York and it works in Sea Point.
A part of the Liquor Act that applies countrywide is that liquor
distributors can sell larger quantities of liquor only to licensed
retailers, including shebeens. Licensing shebeens and taverns
is necessary. If a business wishes to sell alcohol, it should expect
and welcome proper regulation and licensing.
We are a society that wishes to protect its citizens from unscrupulous operators
while doing all things necessary to support licensed operators.
A licence facilitates good business practice and brings informal
business into the mainstream economy. That part of the Liquor
Act makes sense. The new regulations don’t.
Back to the local regulations; if society is suffering because
of alcohol abuse, forcing a nightclub to stop serving drinks
at 02h00 will not solve this problem. An underground, illegal
drinking culture may emerge. Proper policing of licensed
outlets, with continual zero tolerance for drink driving offences
is the answer.
Wouldn’t it better for society if nightclubs and
bars that sell liquor to 15-year-old children at all times of the
night were shut down, rather than forcing owners of law-abiding
venues, with strict admission policies, to close early?
City attorney, Louis Herbert, deals with liquor law matters on
behalf of several entertainment establishments. He said that
“the regulations don’t take into account the legitimate needs of
the tourism and entertainment industry. The idea of licences is
to control business, not to prevent it from taking place. There is
a clear need for a 04h00 licence and the proposed regulations
do not adequately cater for this need. This is short-sighted and
will have to be addressed”.
Shebeen and tavern owners – who operate in residential
areas – will have to stop serving alcohol at 21h00. Five-star
guesthouses and B&Bs in residential areas will have to do the
same. The people who drafted the proposed regulations could
not have properly applied their minds. Imagine visitors from
Europe staying at the ultra exclusive Ellerman House in Bantry
Bay being told that they cannot have a glass of wine with their
dinner. Imagine a patron of a township tavern, just returned
after a day’s work and two hours on public transport, being
told he cannot have a beer after 21h00. The proposals are not
workable, not reasonable and harmful to the industry.
We spoke with nightclub and bar owners, managers
and service staff, who gave their views on the proposals on
condition of anonymity. They said that more harm would be
caused by restricting sales to 02h00 as this would encourage
binge drinking. They much prefer customers to take their time
and drink responsibly.
Guesthouse owners are stunned at the lack of insight from the lawmakers.
Job losses in the tourism and hospitality industry would be inevitable if the regulations are adopted.
Bottle store and boutique wine store owners would like
to extend trading hours where necessary. They would like to
determine for themselves when to shut their doors. They point
out that they would not have extended hours of trading unless
there was a demand, as they would not incur overtime and other
staff costs unless opening later than usual was commercially
viable. Vaughn Johnson, who has had more experience than
most in dealing with extended trading hours, said that in
communities where alcohol abuse is rife, the communities
themselves should be able to define reasonable trading hours.
The communities are the ones most affected, so the decision
should be in their hands.
South Africa is the tourist hub of Africa and Cape Town is
the centre of that hub. To restrict the sale of alcohol under
the regulations proposed is bad for the economy. A number of
people and industries will suffer.
It is time to send the lawmakers back to begin the process again.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sad news from the Grande Roche Hotel
Dear Friends, Industry Colleagues and Guests
It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of our friend and colleague, Frank Zlomke, on Sunday evening, 22nd February, after a lengthy illness.
This great man will be sorely missed by all at, and connected with, the Grande Roche Hotel. After 17 years, he not only made his mark on the hotel, but all over the world.
Frank, one of the most loved and respected chefs in the world, will be remembered for his calm approach to life and his dedication to his family and his work.
Our sincerest condolences go to his wife, Fahema, and two sons Azar and Keanu. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, during this difficult time.
Regards
Garnet Basson
Cigar lovers have fond memories of the meals Frank prepared over many years when the Cigar Club gathered at Bosmans for dinners.
It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of our friend and colleague, Frank Zlomke, on Sunday evening, 22nd February, after a lengthy illness.
This great man will be sorely missed by all at, and connected with, the Grande Roche Hotel. After 17 years, he not only made his mark on the hotel, but all over the world.
Frank, one of the most loved and respected chefs in the world, will be remembered for his calm approach to life and his dedication to his family and his work.
Our sincerest condolences go to his wife, Fahema, and two sons Azar and Keanu. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, during this difficult time.
Regards
Garnet Basson
Cigar lovers have fond memories of the meals Frank prepared over many years when the Cigar Club gathered at Bosmans for dinners.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Class from Caveau
HQ restaurant, the latest offering from the Caveau team, had their launch party last night. Fantastic wines, sirloin and chips; Music from Rene & Kayembe; hordes of people who want and enjoy some of the best food, wines and vibe in Cape Town.
HQ is another winner.
PRESS RELEASE
Headquarters Restaurant, Cape Town
December 2008
Cape Town
Since Cape Town has an abundance of restaurants famous for their meat, another one shouldn’t raise any eyebrows. Yet the team behind Caveau, Cape Town’s popular wine bar and restaurant, are doing just that through their new restaurant, with a focus exclusively on steak. Headquarters is situated on Heritage Square in the city centre, and is loosely based on the famous Parisian restaurant, Le Relais de L’Entrecote, in its homage to meat.
Most noticeable about Headquarters is the straightforward menu concept: it offers a fixed menu of a salad followed by sirloin and chips. Dessert will be an option, but other than how customers would like their steaks cooked, there aren’t many more decisions to make. Which allows guests to focus their attention on the serious wine list. Instead of being crowded with selections, the concise list introduces guests to a changing array of local wines they would rarely get to sample elsewhere. A sizeable bar area opens onto the Heritage Square courtyard, and offers a cocktail list and comfortable lounge seating.
The single-minded restaurant concept is a breath of fresh air in comparison to the numerous restaurants that offer overextended menus and little focus. Headquarters’ focus on one dish will ensure excellence in every meal. Owners Brendon Crew, Jean Muller and Marc Langlois are confident that customers will be repeatedly drawn by the high quality of naturally reared beef, sourced from Eastern Cape. The stimulating wine list and a casual-chic, brasserie-like atmosphere will only add to the experience. And having built Caveau into the success it is today, there is no better team to introduce this new concept to Cape Town.
Headquarters will be the sister restaurant to Caveau, which opened in an historical building in the city centre in 2003. The combination of unassuming hosts serving quality cuisine in an unpretentious atmosphere proved an instant winner. Still as popular today, they have found significant acclaim, including a coveted place on the Condé Nast U.S. list of “35 Coolest International Night Spots.” In January 2007, they opened a second restaurant, Caveau at The Mill, in another area of Cape Town.
Headquarters Restaurant
Open Mon – Sat, Kitchen serving 11h30 – 22h30; bar open late.
Heritage Square
Shortmarket Street, Cape Town
(t) + 27 21 424 6373
(f) +27 21 424 6374
www.hqrestaurant.co.za
HQ is another winner.
PRESS RELEASE
Headquarters Restaurant, Cape Town
December 2008
Cape Town
Since Cape Town has an abundance of restaurants famous for their meat, another one shouldn’t raise any eyebrows. Yet the team behind Caveau, Cape Town’s popular wine bar and restaurant, are doing just that through their new restaurant, with a focus exclusively on steak. Headquarters is situated on Heritage Square in the city centre, and is loosely based on the famous Parisian restaurant, Le Relais de L’Entrecote, in its homage to meat.
Most noticeable about Headquarters is the straightforward menu concept: it offers a fixed menu of a salad followed by sirloin and chips. Dessert will be an option, but other than how customers would like their steaks cooked, there aren’t many more decisions to make. Which allows guests to focus their attention on the serious wine list. Instead of being crowded with selections, the concise list introduces guests to a changing array of local wines they would rarely get to sample elsewhere. A sizeable bar area opens onto the Heritage Square courtyard, and offers a cocktail list and comfortable lounge seating.
The single-minded restaurant concept is a breath of fresh air in comparison to the numerous restaurants that offer overextended menus and little focus. Headquarters’ focus on one dish will ensure excellence in every meal. Owners Brendon Crew, Jean Muller and Marc Langlois are confident that customers will be repeatedly drawn by the high quality of naturally reared beef, sourced from Eastern Cape. The stimulating wine list and a casual-chic, brasserie-like atmosphere will only add to the experience. And having built Caveau into the success it is today, there is no better team to introduce this new concept to Cape Town.
Headquarters will be the sister restaurant to Caveau, which opened in an historical building in the city centre in 2003. The combination of unassuming hosts serving quality cuisine in an unpretentious atmosphere proved an instant winner. Still as popular today, they have found significant acclaim, including a coveted place on the Condé Nast U.S. list of “35 Coolest International Night Spots.” In January 2007, they opened a second restaurant, Caveau at The Mill, in another area of Cape Town.
Headquarters Restaurant
Open Mon – Sat, Kitchen serving 11h30 – 22h30; bar open late.
Heritage Square
Shortmarket Street, Cape Town
(t) + 27 21 424 6373
(f) +27 21 424 6374
www.hqrestaurant.co.za
Friday, November 28, 2008
Lagavulin wins ultra premium award
Just announced - the Lagavulin 21 year old has won the Malt Maniacs 2008 Award. Malt Maniacs is a truly independant organisation that has some of the most knowlegable whisky people on its panel.
Click on the link or type http://www.maltmaniacs.org/2008-whisky-awards.html into your browser for more information.
ULTRA PREMIUM CATEGORY
Non-Plus-Ultra Award 2008 (Ultra Premium)
(Overall top scoring 'ultra premium' whisky out of all 2008 MM Awards entries)
Lagavulin 21yo 1985/2007 (56.5%, OB, 6642 Bts.)
Click on the link or type http://www.maltmaniacs.org/2008-whisky-awards.html into your browser for more information.
ULTRA PREMIUM CATEGORY
Non-Plus-Ultra Award 2008 (Ultra Premium)
(Overall top scoring 'ultra premium' whisky out of all 2008 MM Awards entries)
Lagavulin 21yo 1985/2007 (56.5%, OB, 6642 Bts.)
Thursday, November 27, 2008
A seriously good Irish Whiskey
I recently tasted the Bushmills 1608 at an educational whiskey tasting I had the pleasure of presenting. I had not tried the whiskey and enjoyed it tremendously - as did the audience.
I generally enjoy the Irish - the Bushmills range, particularly the Black Bush and 16 year old, The Tyrconnel, Jamesons 18 and the new Wild Geese single malt.
If you can find a bottle of this very special Bushmills 1608, grab it.
It is a triple distilled blended Irish whiskey, with exceptionally high malt content. There is Crystal malt whiskey at the heart of the blend. It is bottled at 46% ABV. But...it is only available on general release across Bushmills markets until the end of this year, and then only available at Duty Free and at the Distillery.
Official Tasting Notes
An impressive combination of depth and smoothness; Bushmills’ trademark aromatic
nose and soft mouth-feel delivered with an impressive depth of character.
Nose: Rich, dense, concentrated and enticing. Raisins, fir honey.
Taste: Distinctly sweet but balanced. Reveals great depth and weight behind a soft mouth-feel. Touch of vanilla, toasted almonds, gentle spiciness.
Finish: Long and lingering on toffee and dark chocolate.
“Bushmills 1608 was distilled using crystal malt, a special type of malted barley selected to deliver exceptional smoothness. Its name comes from the barleycorns’ crystallized appearance when gently toasted before the distilling process. This enhances the natural sweetness of the malt, giving our whiskey a unique toffee-like smoothness. We hope you enjoy drinking it as much as we enjoyed creating it" explains Colum Egan, Bushmills Master Distiller
I generally enjoy the Irish - the Bushmills range, particularly the Black Bush and 16 year old, The Tyrconnel, Jamesons 18 and the new Wild Geese single malt.
If you can find a bottle of this very special Bushmills 1608, grab it.
It is a triple distilled blended Irish whiskey, with exceptionally high malt content. There is Crystal malt whiskey at the heart of the blend. It is bottled at 46% ABV. But...it is only available on general release across Bushmills markets until the end of this year, and then only available at Duty Free and at the Distillery.
Official Tasting Notes
An impressive combination of depth and smoothness; Bushmills’ trademark aromatic
nose and soft mouth-feel delivered with an impressive depth of character.
Nose: Rich, dense, concentrated and enticing. Raisins, fir honey.
Taste: Distinctly sweet but balanced. Reveals great depth and weight behind a soft mouth-feel. Touch of vanilla, toasted almonds, gentle spiciness.
Finish: Long and lingering on toffee and dark chocolate.
“Bushmills 1608 was distilled using crystal malt, a special type of malted barley selected to deliver exceptional smoothness. Its name comes from the barleycorns’ crystallized appearance when gently toasted before the distilling process. This enhances the natural sweetness of the malt, giving our whiskey a unique toffee-like smoothness. We hope you enjoy drinking it as much as we enjoyed creating it" explains Colum Egan, Bushmills Master Distiller
Monday, November 10, 2008
Blow me
Ever looked at a patron lurch across your floor, car keys in hand, firmly of the opinion that he is sober enough to drive? Ever wanted to prove him wrong? A UK company does. The staff of ‘Blow Me’ will attend an event and offer an alcohol breath-testing service, giving customers sometimes unexpected results.
People are invited to blow into the tube and read their blood alcohol level on the display. The testing is done in a non-threatening way, so it is still up to the patrons whether or not they decide to turn the ignition key. However, the moral ramifications could prove tricky: if you know that someone is over the limit and you don’t stop them from getting into their cars, how much guilt do you bear if they have an accident that you could have prevented?
Many indulgers seem to be under the impression that if they feel ‘fine’, they are capable of driving after a couple (or more) drinks. The law, however, is not that vague and subjective. Blow Me tries to educate and warn customers of the risks they face.
The company can be booked for private functions and will also do their thing at restaurants and club venues. The Blow Me crew recently accompanied drivers on a week-long segment of a racing event, doing breath tests every morning before they set off. Some were shocked to discover that their blood alcohol level was many times over the legal limit, hours after they had stopped drinking the night before. They, of course, had to organise alternative transport.
As a liquor retailer, you don’t want to discourage your customers from drinking, but you do want to stop the irresponsible from risking themselves, the lives of their passengers and other road-users. Blow Me’s services are not available in this country yet, but you can promote safe driving at your business. Encourage intoxicated patrons or colleagues to call a taxi or use one of the companies specialising in drunk driver call-outs.
This article appeared in TOT magazine earlier this year.
People are invited to blow into the tube and read their blood alcohol level on the display. The testing is done in a non-threatening way, so it is still up to the patrons whether or not they decide to turn the ignition key. However, the moral ramifications could prove tricky: if you know that someone is over the limit and you don’t stop them from getting into their cars, how much guilt do you bear if they have an accident that you could have prevented?
Many indulgers seem to be under the impression that if they feel ‘fine’, they are capable of driving after a couple (or more) drinks. The law, however, is not that vague and subjective. Blow Me tries to educate and warn customers of the risks they face.
The company can be booked for private functions and will also do their thing at restaurants and club venues. The Blow Me crew recently accompanied drivers on a week-long segment of a racing event, doing breath tests every morning before they set off. Some were shocked to discover that their blood alcohol level was many times over the legal limit, hours after they had stopped drinking the night before. They, of course, had to organise alternative transport.
As a liquor retailer, you don’t want to discourage your customers from drinking, but you do want to stop the irresponsible from risking themselves, the lives of their passengers and other road-users. Blow Me’s services are not available in this country yet, but you can promote safe driving at your business. Encourage intoxicated patrons or colleagues to call a taxi or use one of the companies specialising in drunk driver call-outs.
This article appeared in TOT magazine earlier this year.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Drunk drivers beware!
Metro police have introduced a one-stop shop for drunken drivers aimed at increasing their conviction rate to 90 percent over the festive season.
Motorists who are planning a tipple this weekend will be among the first to experience the new 24 hour, seven days a week Intoximeter Alcohol Evidential Test Centre, a processing centre located at the Johannesburg Metro Police Department's officers in Village Street in the CBD.
Anyone caught in the swoop - set to take place in Randburg, Soweto and Johannesburg CBD - will be taken to the new "boozer factory" and holding area, the infrastructure alone costing R500 000, a donation from Business Against Crime with the new Drager breathalysers costing R75 000 each.
Metro police chief Chris Ngcobo said this morning at the launch of the new device that his force had caught almost 4 000 drunken drivers over the course of the year but that 95 percent of the cases never get prosecuted successfully, many not even making it to court.
"Drunk drivers just aren't taking us seriously," admitted Ngcobo.
In recent roadblocks in Hillbrow, police arrested 48 people for drunken driving in just one hour. Over the same period a roadblock in Moroka, Soweto, yielded 30 drunken driving arrests.
"If you look at (Pretoria High Court) Judge (Nkola) Motata's case, look how long it took for that to go to court. At least it went to court," he said.
Judge Motata is currently on trial for drunken driving in the Johannesburg magistrate's court after smashing through a Hurlingham, Johannesburg, wall with his Jaguar in January last year.
In 90 percent of cases where people are killed in accidents, alcohol is involved.
The new system will start off with 40 mobile breathalysers. If someone is suspected of drunken driving they will be taken to Village Street and required to blow into the Drager machine.
The result, which will give an accurate blood alcohol reading, will be used as evidence in court, which would negate the need for a blood test.
Suspects often refused to cooperate with a blood sample being taken and the results take between 12 and 18 months.
Other than the delay in prosecution, the delay in receiving the test results also means those waiting for an insurance claim to pay out have to wait up to two years.
Other than the Drager, the entire Intoximeter Test Centre will be monitored by CCTV cameras which will also help with circumstancial evidence against a drunk driver. This would also prevent any flouting of the law by metro officers.
The centre will see two dedicated full-time prosecutors who will often be in attendance for the initial arrest and follow the case through to the courts.
Holding areas with open cells will be used to house suspects with additional specially adapted trucks on hand to deal with the massive number of arrests expected over the festive season.
Those convicted of drunken driving will also be "named and shamed" in the newspapers with their blood alcohol level handed over to the media.
Ngcobo said his officers would not abandon some of the tried and trusted methods, like making a suspected drunk driver walk on a white line and holding up a number of fingers for them to identify.
As part of the metro police's efforts to create awareness of the affects of alcohol, they are staging an office party this weekend where the participants will have their blood alcohol tested every hour.
Motorists who are planning a tipple this weekend will be among the first to experience the new 24 hour, seven days a week Intoximeter Alcohol Evidential Test Centre, a processing centre located at the Johannesburg Metro Police Department's officers in Village Street in the CBD.
Anyone caught in the swoop - set to take place in Randburg, Soweto and Johannesburg CBD - will be taken to the new "boozer factory" and holding area, the infrastructure alone costing R500 000, a donation from Business Against Crime with the new Drager breathalysers costing R75 000 each.
Metro police chief Chris Ngcobo said this morning at the launch of the new device that his force had caught almost 4 000 drunken drivers over the course of the year but that 95 percent of the cases never get prosecuted successfully, many not even making it to court.
"Drunk drivers just aren't taking us seriously," admitted Ngcobo.
In recent roadblocks in Hillbrow, police arrested 48 people for drunken driving in just one hour. Over the same period a roadblock in Moroka, Soweto, yielded 30 drunken driving arrests.
"If you look at (Pretoria High Court) Judge (Nkola) Motata's case, look how long it took for that to go to court. At least it went to court," he said.
Judge Motata is currently on trial for drunken driving in the Johannesburg magistrate's court after smashing through a Hurlingham, Johannesburg, wall with his Jaguar in January last year.
In 90 percent of cases where people are killed in accidents, alcohol is involved.
The new system will start off with 40 mobile breathalysers. If someone is suspected of drunken driving they will be taken to Village Street and required to blow into the Drager machine.
The result, which will give an accurate blood alcohol reading, will be used as evidence in court, which would negate the need for a blood test.
Suspects often refused to cooperate with a blood sample being taken and the results take between 12 and 18 months.
Other than the delay in prosecution, the delay in receiving the test results also means those waiting for an insurance claim to pay out have to wait up to two years.
Other than the Drager, the entire Intoximeter Test Centre will be monitored by CCTV cameras which will also help with circumstancial evidence against a drunk driver. This would also prevent any flouting of the law by metro officers.
The centre will see two dedicated full-time prosecutors who will often be in attendance for the initial arrest and follow the case through to the courts.
Holding areas with open cells will be used to house suspects with additional specially adapted trucks on hand to deal with the massive number of arrests expected over the festive season.
Those convicted of drunken driving will also be "named and shamed" in the newspapers with their blood alcohol level handed over to the media.
Ngcobo said his officers would not abandon some of the tried and trusted methods, like making a suspected drunk driver walk on a white line and holding up a number of fingers for them to identify.
As part of the metro police's efforts to create awareness of the affects of alcohol, they are staging an office party this weekend where the participants will have their blood alcohol tested every hour.
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