The National Assembly is to amend the 1998 Liquor Act. Industrialization, Trade and SME Development Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko is expected to table the bill on Tuesday. The bill seeks to provide for the issuing of liquor licenses prohibiting owners from setting up liquor outlets close to residential areas, schools, hospitals and other public places. The proposed legislation also empowers the ministry to prohibit the sale of alcohol at public places. Once enacted, the act will regulate the sale of alcohol in retail outlets linked to petrol and diesel service stations, outside prescribed hours. It further seeks to include the Industrialization, Trade and SME Development Ministry, local authorities and traditional authorities in the Regional Liquor Licensing Committees. The minister gave notice of the tabling of the bill in the National Assembly on Thursday.