The Botswana Entertainment Promoters Association (BEPA) has raised alarm over the government’s proposal to allow liquor outlets to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, warning that the move could have dire social and economic consequences that contradict the intended goals of job creation and industry growth.
While acknowledging the government’s intent to liberalise the entertainment and hospitality sectors as part of a broader economic stimulus strategy, BEPA argues that the proposed blanket extension of alcohol trading hours is rushed, ill-structured and potentially catastrophic for the creative and events ecosystem.
According to the association, the proposal is based on a flawed assumption that alcohol access is synonymous with nightlife. BEPA stresses that nightlife is about cultural experiences, entertainment, and artistic expression rather than unrestricted access to alcohol. The association warned that unregulated 24/7 alcohol sales could reduce nightlife to uncontrolled drinking environments that lack meaningful social and artistic engagement, undermining the government’s vision of a vibrant creative economy built on structured entertainment and professional event production.
One of BEPA’s main concerns is the potential unfair competition between different types of liquor-licensed establishments. The association says the Liquor Act amendment fails to clarify the operational distinctions between bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and bottle stores, putting them on a collision course and threatening existing jobs. BEPA further notes that some bars and restaurants have already begun operating as nightclubs outside their license conditions, and fears that 24-hour trading could worsen this trend and jeopardise legitimate entertainment businesses that invest heavily in production, artists, and event infrastructure.
The association warns that the entertainment and events sector thrives on structure and discipline, both of which are at risk under a deregulated alcohol trading system. BEPA cautions that performing artists, event promoters, and creative professionals could face declining audiences as patrons opt for unregulated, all-day bar settings instead of attending ticketed events. The association says the death of the creative entertainment and events industry is imminent if the proposal proceeds without clear structural safeguards. Music festivals, concerts, and themed cultural experiences – which form the backbone of Botswana’s entertainment economy – could be rendered unviable.
Instead of total deregulation, BEPA is calling for a structured reform of the alcohol and nightlife policy. The association proposes that operating hours be extended but not made unlimited, and that adjustments be reviewed in line with current licensing categories to support nightlife in a safe and sustainable manner. BEPA further calls for clear differentiation between entertainment venues, bars, and restaurants based on their contribution to the creative sector. It also proposes that the government introduce incentives such as grants or tax breaks for promoters and venues that invest in structured entertainment and create employment for artists.
BEPA insists that with proper policy alignment, Botswana can grow both its entertainment and hospitality sectors without sacrificing the integrity and sustainability of the creative economy.
