DRINK NOW, PAY NOW . . . no credit sales for beer

The Liquor Licencing Act [Chapter 14:12] Section 81 explicitly dictates that intoxicating liquor must only be sold or supplied upon immediate payment

Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
BUYING or selling beer on credit is a criminal offence in Zimbabwe, and licenced operators such as bars, bottle stores, and shebeens risk severe penalties — including the loss of their operating licences — if they run “tab” systems or allow customers to pay later.
A “tab” system involves keeping an open, cumulative bill for a customer, allowing them to order multiple drinks over time and settle the total amount later. While it may appear to function as a short-term line of credit, the practice is strictly prohibited under Zimbabwean law.
The Liquor Licencing Act [Chapter 14:12] Section 81 explicitly dictates that intoxicating liquor must only be sold or supplied upon immediate payment.
In other words, it is illegal to provide beer to a customer without upfront settlement.
This legislation forms part of broader efforts to regulate bars and public drinking culture, ensuring accountability and discouraging practices that could fuel debt, disorder, or abuse in drinking establishments.
“81. Restriction on credit sales of liquor: (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall, in or on any licenced premises-: (a) supply for consumption therein or thereon; or (b) consume therein or thereon; any liquor unless it is paid for at the time when it is supplied.”
The law has always been in place, but police officers have not been enforcing it consistently, a development that has seen many drinkers getting beer on credit, while some fail to pay money owed to beer outlets.
Speaking during the Liquor Licencing Act review stakeholder consultation workshop held in Mutare early this week, Officer-in-Charge (Crime) at the Police General Headquarters, Chief Inspector Tonderai Brian Chigweshe, said the unfortunate reality is that operators and their customers are not aware of the laws governing their operations as well as their activities.
“What is certain is that all those who sell beer or operate beer outlets operate under the Liquor Licencing Act, but they do not know what is contained in the Act. All they are after is profit.
“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 to the law, but ignorance is no defence,” he said.
However, according to the Act, the sale of alcohol without immediate payment does not affect transactions in hotels.
“(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to liquor sold in terms of a hotel liquor licence or a hotel (private) liquor licence to a guest staying at the hotel. (2) Subsection (1) shall not apply – (a) in relation to premises in respect of which a club liquor licence is held; or (b) if the liquor is supplied to any person bona-fide taking a meal on the licenced premises for consumption with, or immediately before or after, such meal and the price of the liquor is paid at the conclusion of such meal together with the price of the meal; or
“(c) if the liquor is supplied in moderate quantity to the order of any guest staying or boarding at the licenced premises; or (d) if the liquor is supplied in moderate quantity, having regard to the type of social function concerned, to the order of any person who is holding a social function in or on the licensed premises; or “(e) if the liquor is supplied free of charge and in moderate quantity by the owner of such liquor to his friends or regular customers.”
The Liquor Licencing Act further states that the outlet owner or manager has the right to eject from the outlet any person who is drunk, violent, quarrelsome or offensive, or who habitually frequents licenced premises for the purpose of soliciting drinks.
Reads the Act: “79. Exclusion of certain persons from licenced premises (1) A licensee or approved manager or an agent or employee of a licensee or approved manager may refuse to admit to, or may turn out of, the licenced premises in respect of which he is the licensee or approved manager any person;
“(a) who is drunk; or (b) who is violent, quarrelsome or offensive; or (c) who habitually frequents licenced premises for the purpose of soliciting drink; or (d) whose presence on licenced premises would subject the licensee or approved manager to a penalty under this Act; and may refuse to serve any such person with liquor.
“(2) All police officers in uniform are required, on the request of the licensee or approved manager or the agent or employee of the licensee or approved manager, to expel or assist in expelling every person referred to in subsection (1) from the licenced premises concerned and may use such force as may be reasonably necessary for that purpose.
“80. No liquor to be consumed on licenced premises later than 30 minutes after closing time. (1) Subject to subsection (2), no liquor which is sold to any person on licenced premises during any period in which the liquor may be sold to that person shall be consumed on the licenced premises later than 30 minutes after the end of that period.”