Law changed in Cape Town to permit Champagne breakfasts

Authorities in Cape Town have been warned that they risk being accused of “cultural discrimination” after changing a law aimed at tackling alcohol abuse to allow for Champagne breakfasts.

As reported in The Telegraph, the liquor by-law was introduced last year and proposed bans on the sale of alcohol after 9pm and before 11am in a bid to tackle abuse.

The legislation has since been revised to allow sparkling wine to be served in the morning after tourism chiefs raised concerns that it might hamper Cape Town’s cosmopolitan image by preventing visitors from enjoying a glass of Champagne or locally produced Cap Classique at breakfast.

Days before it was due to be voted on, lawyers in the licensing department have raised concerns that making an exception for fizz could be deemed “culturally discriminatory” as the same rules did not apply for other beverages like beer.

The Telegraph reports that legal advisors to Cape Town council have warned that attempts at reversing economic injustices might also be scuppered if a financial advantage was given to those producing and selling sparkling wine.

In order to get around the problem, the committee deliberating on the by-law could either extend the breakfast drinking definition more generally include to all alcohol, or stipulate that hotels and restaurants needed to apply for a licence to serve any alcohol in the morning.

Committee member Dave Bryant highlighted that serving Champagne with breakfast was an “internationally-recognised practice” and unlikely to result in alcohol abuse.

“With our political climate, we have to be sensitive when it comes to being discriminatory and it’s possible that this could be perceived as such but it certainly wasn’t the intention,” Bryant told The Telegraph.

“If people really have breakfasts where beer is served and it’s a widespread thing then obviously that will be taken into consideration but we haven’t found any evidence to suggest it,” he added.