SANParks.org Forums

Beeld reported this morning:

In accordance with Environmental legislation, tourists are not allowed to consume alcohol in their vehicles while in the KNP.

Tourists were fined R1500.00 for consuming alcohol in a vehicle while in the KNP.

It was reported that tourists were found in the Skukuza camp with empty beer bottles of which the contents had been consumed by the passengers in the vehicle while in the park, and fined by a traffic official.

This is quite OK; now hopefully the same will happen to speedsters, litterers, persons out of their vehicles outside indicated areas and other law breakers.

Definitely positive

Glad that they were reprimanded.

Dont get me wrong here I am not pro alcohol at all but Im curious here if only the passengers were drinking where is the harm in that they werent driving? If they were day visitors that smuggled alcohol in then I understand what this go's about but if it was people staying In the park then whats the problem? People who are visiting in the park are allowed to drink fair enough not the the driver but the passengers they arent handling the mechanics of the vehicle also clearly they didnt throw their bottles out of the car so they didnt litter or were they extremely rowdy and extremly drunk then I understand this scenario completely and I say they deserved it but what if they had a bit left in a bottle and just finished it along the way on a game drive what then? Does that make them bad enough to warrant a fine as passengers? Please could someone from Sanparks clarify this for me I would really appreciate the feedback to know why, so that others dont fall into this same catagory cos I as a Kruger lover have never and will never overstep any rules or regulations of the park but to be sure Im not doing anything I or my passengers arent allowed to do Id appreciate clarification? Thanks in advance

Think it falls under the law of drinking in public.

SL the rules are that alcohol in only to be consumed in the privacy of your own accommodation, not in any public place either inside the camps or out in your vehicle in the park, or at picnic sites etc.

As you also pointed out, only overnight visitors can carry alcohol in their cars in the park.

Hope that helps.

SL

It was implemented because of people's bad behaviour when they have consumed too much alcohol as well as the no drinking in public law. Here is the press release:

http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/news.php?id=1612

Thanks guys and dolls appreciate all the comments and I know of the new rule applied but honestly even sitting in your camp site could be seen as drinking in public or am I wrong??

What about people that bring their 'dop' with them when going to the pools Ive witnessed that aswell should those also not be fined?

Christmas 2010, we stayed in Letaba, and it was a nightmare!!!
There were many day vistors all drinking alcohol..........swimming nude, defecating in the pool, very offensive behaviour in the shop, pushing and shoving other customers, loud music, very loud shrieks and shouts etc...........that was before the new alcohol rules.

We were there again in March 2011, after the rules had kicked in, and what a difference!!!!

A lot of us enjoyed and champagne breaffast, or sundowner at a waterhole, or a cold beer with our braai at a picnic spot, and therefore many law abiding people were penalised for the actions of the minority and some people thought that was unfair, but I can't see how it could have been done differently.

I know some people still find ways to bring alcolhol in illegally, but when they are caught they should not be surprised to be fined.

There are enough notices on the permits, on this website, and in the camps and picnic areas etc, so people have no excuse for not knowing the rules.

Just saw your post SL............and no, sitting in your camping area or at your bungalow, is completely within the law, it is only in public areas that it is not allowed. You can of course sit and have a drink if you buy it at the restaurants in camp.

Now that is seriously Bad Val, I am glad the rule came in don't get me wrong at all, I myself witnessed a hmmm thing I cant even refer to it as a human being Threw a beer bottle at a Lion to get his attention I was so mad that day I wished I had a truck to drive over him and his vehicle, and because I was stuck in the roadblock couldnt get out to follow him and take him to the authoritys so the rule has definitely helped to some level I believe.

I agree SL, though as I said it is a shame for the majority of us, who only had one beer, or one glass of champagne etc, and now can't, but it is still a rule I am in favour of, because I wouldn't like to go back to the way it had become that Christmas at Letaba.

We now wait till we get back to Phala for our sundowner and it doesn't kill us!!!

itg must have been awful seeing someone mistreat that poor lion!!

I definitely agree with you on that val i wouldnt want it to go back to that and cruel is not a word for it I never imagined anyone could even think to do such a dispicable thing to such a beautiful creature It was heartwrenching to watch and frustrating to not be able to move to do anything about it It took my SO the rest of the day just to calm me down I was so mad

Are you saying there should be no drinking in the restaurants ? That is definitely public
moose1

The restaurants all have a licence to serve alcohol.

erm sorry moose but I havent spoken about drinking at restuarants at all so Im not sure as to why the comment??

It seems the law will scarcely affect anyone.....while on gate duty we remind folk about the alcohol rules.....and the vast majority of folk tell us 'OK but we don't drink anyway!'