Namibia’s Directives for the Sale of Liquor during COVID-19

Only holders of hotel liquor licence or restaurant liquor licence are allowed to sell liquor for on-consumption during the specified period.

They must ensure that all persons entering the licensed premises are sanitised with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, maintain social distancing, demarcate social distance inside and outside the licensed premises with clear signs, monitor compliance with social distance, limit the number of people in the licensed premises, ensure employees wear protective gear, clean and sanitise counters and till screens after every customer’s transaction, and ensure cashiers clean and sanitise their hands after every customer’s transaction.

No, traditional liquor cannot be sold or purchased for consumption at the place of sale or purchase.

The seller must ensure that all persons entering or waiting to enter the premises where the person sells the traditional liquor are sanitised with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, maintain a social distance of at least one and half meters between them, queue up, and are monitored at all times to ensure compliance with the social distance. The social distance must be demarcated inside and outside the premises where the person sells the traditional liquor with clear signs to ensure adherence to social distance. The seller or seller’s employees must wear protective gear, and the premises where the person sells traditional liquor must be cleaned and sanitised.

A driver or person delivering liquor or any packaging materials related to the production of liquor either within Namibia or sourced from outside Namibia is allowed to transport and deliver liquor or packaging materials at any time. Third party merchandisers are only allowed access to licensed premises during normal business hours as determined by a licence holder. They must adhere to the measures to combat, prevent and suppress the spread of COVID-19. A licence holder offering online sale of liquor may only sell liquor during the days and hours specified in regulation 7 of the Regulations and is allowed to transport or deliver liquor during the normal business hours of the licence holder.

These directives apply for the duration of the specified period.

No, an on-consumption licence holder, except for a holder of hotel liquor licence or restaurant liquor licence, must not sell liquor on the licensed premises for on-consumption during the specified period.

Yes, a licence holder intending to renew the holder’s licence in terms of section 38(5) of the Liquor Act may renew the licence on or before 28 June 2020, subject to regulation 15 of the Regulations published under Proclamation No. 18 of 4 May 2020 providing that a licence is valid during the specified period or such longer period as a Minister or other functionary may determine.

A person who contravenes or fails to comply with these directives commits an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine not exceeding N$2 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.