A combined team of Lusaka City Council -LCC Public Health Inspectors, Council Police and State Police last night closed 17 bars for operating outside permitted hours.
LCC Public Relations Manager George Sichimba says the team conducted a night operation in selected parts of Munali and Kabwata Constituencies.
Mr Sichimba says the operation meant to check on compliance with the laws and regulations relating to liquor trade, started at 22:00 hours last night and ended at 02:30 hours this morning.
The affected bars were found operating outside stipulated hours contrary to the Liquor Licensing Regulations of 2012.
“The law stipulates that bars and bottle stores must open at 10:00 hours and close at 22:00 hours” He said.
“Night clubs/social clubs must open at 10:00 hours and close at 24:00 hours while wholesale liquor must open at 08:00 hours and close at 18:00 hours”.
Mr Sichimba says the only exempted establishments are hotels, lodges, Guest houses, Restaurants, boarding houses, camps and camp sites which can sell liquor at any time to clients who are lodging with them and people that are buying food with regards to restaurants.
He has expressed sadness that some establishments dealing in liquor are not operating within the law hence the operations to check on compliance levels.
He adds that apart from operating outside stipulated hours, 7 bars were also found trading without liquor licenses contrary to the Liquor Licensing Act No. 20 of 2011.
“Seven people claiming to be bar attendants who were found selling liquor in unlicensed bars were apprehended and they will only be released when owners show up” He said.
Mr Sichimba says the team also confiscated 19 loud speakers and liquor licences from licensed bars but found operating outside permitted hours.
He says the documents and music accessories were confiscated to compel owners to report to Council on Monday and answer charges.
Mr Sichimba has since warned people operating liquor establishments to always abide by the law to avoid inconveniences.
He says the local authority will not relent in its quest to bring sanity in the city.