Finance and Economic Development MEC Alan Winde has slammed a local wine manufacturer for packaging alcohol in colourful containers resembling “kiddies’ juice”.Addressing Dunoon liquor traders on Monday, Winde said Mal Piet, a rosé sold in colourful 250ml containers with a mini-straw attached, should be banned. Packaging wine in containers that were “appealing to children” was irresponsible and should not be on the shelves.
The 250ml cartons, manufactured by Cape Wine Works in Milnerton, are sold at R5 each and R30 for a pack of six.
“We want responsible liquor traders in the Western Cape, not this,” said Winde, holding up a pink carton of Mal Piet.
“This is not a responsible way of selling liquor. The way the marketing and packaging is done, it does not look like wine. It looks like cooldrink or kiddies’ juice.”
Mal Piet comes in pink, light blue and yellow packaging.
Winde said that if his daughter saw the Mal Piet container in the kitchen, she would drink it because it looked like a kiddie drink. “This is completely unacceptable,” he said.
But Cape Wine Works director Rein Myburgh said Mal Piet had been sold and packaged in colourful containers “for years”.
“The product went through a design process and has been packaged in accordance with the law,” Myburgh said. “Mal Piet is not at all aimed at under-aged drinkers or children. We are a responsible company.”
Asked why the cartons were colourful and had a mini-straw attached, Myburgh said: “It went through a design process many years ago and everything was approved that way. It was not intended to be appealing to children.”
Nick Spencer of the Western Cape Liquor Authority said while the packaging was not illegal, it was irresponsible.
He said the authority would send the Mal Piet containers for a “product test” to ensure that they were “completely above board”.
“This is irresponsible trading, marketing and advertising,” Spencer said. “We were alerted that the product was being sold at a number of outlets on Saturday and will send it for a product test.”
Spencer said the liquor authority and Winde’s office had been trying to get hold of Myburgh since Friday.
“While we’ve sent the product for testing, the MEC will try to set up a meeting with the manufacturers to ensure that something is done to change the way the wine is packaged,” he said.
About 11 Dunoon liquor traders attended the Liquor Act information session hosted by the provincial government on Monday.
There are 22 licensed liquor traders in Dunoon and an estimated 40 illegal shebeens in the area.
The new act came into effect on April 1 this year. Traders were warned to check with their municipality about when they could operate, as this was dictated by zoning regulations and by-laws.
Under the new act, individuals could face up to five years in jail, or a R1 million fine, for the most serious contraventions, including trading without a licence and selling alcohol to children. (from IOL)
“This is not a responsible way of selling liquor. The way the marketing and packaging is done, it does not look like wine. It looks like cooldrink or kiddies’ juice.”Mal Piet comes in pink, light blue and yellow packaging.
Winde said that if his daughter saw the Mal Piet container in the kitchen, she would drink it because it looked like a kiddie drink. “This is completely unacceptable,” he said.
But Cape Wine Works director Rein Myburgh said Mal Piet had been sold and packaged in colourful containers “for years”.
“The product went through a design process and has been packaged in accordance with the law,” Myburgh said. “Mal Piet is not at all aimed at under-aged drinkers or children. We are a responsible company.”
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Nick Spencer of the Western Cape Liquor Authority said while the packaging was not illegal, it was irresponsible.
He said the authority would send the Mal Piet containers for a “product test” to ensure that they were “completely above board”.
“This is irresponsible trading, marketing and advertising,” Spencer said. “We were alerted that the product was being sold at a number of outlets on Saturday and will send it for a product test.”
Spencer said the liquor authority and Winde’s office had been trying to get hold of Myburgh since Friday.
About 11 Dunoon liquor traders attended the Liquor Act information session hosted by the provincial government on Monday.
There are 22 licensed liquor traders in Dunoon and an estimated 40 illegal shebeens in the area.
The new act came into effect on April 1 this year. Traders were warned to check with their municipality about when they could operate, as this was dictated by zoning regulations and by-laws.
Under the new act, individuals could face up to five years in jail, or a R1 million fine, for the most serious contraventions, including trading without a licence and selling alcohol to children. (from IOL)
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