Selling Beer On Credit Is A Criminal Offence

Buying or selling beer on credit is a criminal offence in Zimbabwe. Licensed operators such as bars, bottle stores and shebeens risk tough penalties, including losing their operating licences, if they run “tab” systems or let customers pay later.

A “tab” system means keeping an open bill for a customer, allowing them to order drinks over time and settle the total later.

While it may look like a short-term line of credit, the practice is banned under Zimbabwean law.

Section 81 of the Liquor Licensing Act [Chapter 14:12] states clearly that intoxicating liquor must only be sold or supplied when payment is made immediately.

In other words, it is illegal to give a customer beer without upfront payment.

The law is part of wider efforts to regulate bars and public drinking to promote accountability and prevent debt, disorder or abuse in drinking establishments.

The law has always been in place, but police have not enforced it consistently. As a result, many drinkers have been getting beer on credit, and some fail to pay what they owe to beer outlets.

Speaking at the Liquor Licensing Act review stakeholder consultation workshop in Mutare last week, Officer-in-Charge (Crime) at the Police General Headquarters, Chief Inspector Tonderai Brian Chigweshe, said many operators and customers do not know the laws that govern their businesses and activities.

“What is certain is that all those who sell beer or operate beer outlets operate under the Liquor Licensing Act, but they do not know what is contained in the Act. All they are after is profit,” he said.

“Most of you do not know that selling alcohol on credit is a crime. Even when they go to the extent of trading beyond their stipulated time frames simply because they want to plead ignorance of the law, but ignorance is no defence.”

However, under the Act, the rule on immediate payment does not apply to alcohol sales in hotels.

The Liquor Licensing Act also stipulates that the owner or manager of a licensed outlet has the right to remove anyone drunk, violent, quarrelsome or offensive.

The same applies to people who regularly visit licensed premises just to ask others to buy them drinks.

More: The Manica Post