A motion was passed at the Knysna Mayoral Committee meeting, October 15, giving the green light to drinking in public places around the clock over a period of days during the festive season.

If this recommendation is passed at a council meeting on Thursday, October 29th it will mean that the following areas, Green Hole, Bollard Bay, Kathy Park, Coney Glen, Buffalo Bay, Brenton-on-Sea and the Old Jetty in Sedgefield, will be declared legal alcohol 'watering holes' from December 23 to January 2 (around-the-clock) and, from January 3 until December 22.

Drinking of alcohol in these public places will be permitted from 06:00 until 22:00 at night.

The impact this will have on crime, drunken driving and drownings is obvious.  Our law enforcement is already stretched and this cannot be policed too.

This is a quote from Steven Langley, Manager of Knysna Protection Services:

"Protection Services is not in agreement with the idea of designating certain areas as drinking areas. This will create a problem in terms of law enforcement and could lead to an increase in cases of assault, murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, all of which can be ascribed to the excessive consumption of alcohol. It will further add to incidents of drunken driving." 

Please sign this petition to prevent this from damaging our town and ruining Christmas season for residents and vistors alike.