By Kefiloe Kajane
Lesotho’s cabinet of ministers this week approved the Liquor Licensing Amendment Bill of 2020 which amends the liquor law of 1998.
According to information coming out of cabinet, liquor licenses will no longer be issued by the ministry of tourism, environment and culture. This will now be done by the ministry of trade and industry after the Bill has been passed by parliament.
This after the Liquor Licensing Act of 1998 was reviewed in 2015 to, among others, regulate the brewing and selling of liquor, and oversee the operations of businesses mushrooming in the catering and tourism sectors.
The revised law also seeks to find the best way to regulate the selling of traditionally brewed liquor and other liquor brands that are brought into Lesotho under ‘mysterious’ circumstances.