5,669
edits
Difference between revisions of "Shebeens (South Africa)"
no edit summary
(Created page with "<table class="informalpractice" style="background-color:#f7f7f7;border:1px solid black;border-collapse:collapse;width:22em;font-size:88%;float:right;"> <tr class="nameofpracti...") |
|||
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
'''''Original Text: Prof. Nicolette Peters''''' | '''''Original Text: Prof. Nicolette Peters''''' | ||
Informal alcohol outlets commonly known as shebeens operate in South Africa’s townships. The Oxford Dictionary defines shebeen as, ‘an unlicensed establishment or private house selling alcohol and typically regarded as slightly disreputable’ (Oxford Dictionary 2015). The word shebeen was coined in the late eighteenth century from the Anglo-Irish síbín, from séibe, mugful (ibid). It was commonly used in Ireland and Scotland as well as South Africa. Currently shebeens are the most widespread enterprise in South African townships; the Western Cape is estimated to have 25,000 unlawful shebeens and 152,500 people working in shebeens (Barnes 2012). | Informal alcohol outlets commonly known as ''shebeens'' operate in South Africa’s townships. The Oxford Dictionary defines ''shebeen'' as, ‘an unlicensed establishment or private house selling alcohol and typically regarded as slightly disreputable’ (Oxford Dictionary 2015). The word ''shebeen'' was coined in the late eighteenth century from the Anglo-Irish ''síbín'', from ''séibe'', mugful (ibid). It was commonly used in Ireland and Scotland as well as South Africa. Currently ''shebeens'' are the most widespread enterprise in South African townships; the Western Cape is estimated to have 25,000 unlawful ''shebeens'' and 152,500 people working in ''shebeens'' (Barnes 2012<ref>Barnes, C . 2012. ‘Shebeen owners to feel heat for crime’,IolNews, 12 July, http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/shebeen-owners-to-feel-heat-for-crime-1.1291329#.UF13A7Igc8E</ref>). | ||
Shebeens sell legally manufactured alcohol, but in an illegal fashion (i.e. without a licence). There is no economic incentive for them to sell illegally produced alcohol because legal alcohol is cheap and accessible. Indeed, South African Breweries (SAB), which dominates the South African beer market with a market share of 95 per cent, actively supports shebeens and in turn is dependent on them – over 82 per cent of SAB beer is sold in shebeens (Tsoeu 2009: ii). | Shebeens sell legally manufactured alcohol, but in an illegal fashion (i.e. without a licence). There is no economic incentive for them to sell illegally produced alcohol because legal alcohol is cheap and accessible. Indeed, South African Breweries (SAB), which dominates the South African beer market with a market share of 95 per cent, actively supports shebeens and in turn is dependent on them – over 82 per cent of SAB beer is sold in shebeens (Tsoeu 2009: ii). | ||
In 1902 licenses were introduced for traditional beer sellers in South Africa, which led to the growth of shebeens (La Hausse 1992: 89). During the colonial and apartheid eras, the manufacture, distribution, sale and use of alcohol were regulated by the Liquor Act 30 of 1928 and the Native (Urban Areas) Act 21 of 1923 (Cameron 1999: 14). These statutes prohibited the supply and delivery to, or possession of, alcohol by ‘non‐whites’. Only white people could trade liquor; black people could only drink at beer halls introduced in 1908, established to fund the improvement of black areas, though the profits were in fact not used for this purpose (Freeman and Parry 2006: 4-5). In addition, Singer claims that the regime ensured that alcohol was more easily obtained by Indians and ‘coloureds’ than by black Africans. These racial restrictions on alcohol forced black people to enter the illegal alcohol industry, and consequently led to the growth of shebeens as an act of resistance to the apartheid‐era exclusion (Singer 2003: 2). | In 1902 licenses were introduced for traditional beer sellers in South Africa, which led to the growth of shebeens (La Hausse 1992: 89). During the colonial and apartheid eras, the manufacture, distribution, sale and use of alcohol were regulated by the Liquor Act 30 of 1928 and the Native (Urban Areas) Act 21 of 1923 (Cameron 1999: 14). These statutes prohibited the supply and delivery to, or possession of, alcohol by ‘non‐whites’. Only white people could trade liquor; black people could only drink at beer halls introduced in 1908, established to fund the improvement of black areas, though the profits were in fact not used for this purpose (Freeman and Parry 2006: 4-5). In addition, Singer claims that the regime ensured that alcohol was more easily obtained by Indians and ‘coloureds’ than by black Africans. These racial restrictions on alcohol forced black people to enter the illegal alcohol industry, and consequently led to the growth of shebeens as an act of resistance to the apartheid‐era exclusion (Singer 2003: 2). | ||