“So the Rumours Are True”: SA Man Stunned by Drive-Thru Liquor Store in East London

• A TikTok creator visiting East London, South Africa, stumbled upon a fully operational drive-thru liquor store called Amalinda Drive-Thru
• The creator pulled up, ordered a Castle Lite, and filmed his disbelief at the experience on 15 September 2026
• South Africans in the comments revealed that drive-thru bottle stores are more common than most people think

A TikTok creator visiting East London got the shock of his life when he pulled up to a fully operational drive-thru liquor store and ordered a cold one from behind the wheel.

The clip, posted to @timmorrel on TikTok on 15 September 2026, shows him driving through the Amalinda Drive-Thru bottle store in East London, Eastern Cape. He had seen footage of the place online before and made a point of visiting to see it for himself.

Filming in selfie mode from inside his car, he pulled up to the store, greeted the cashier, and placed an order for a single Castle Lite. The whole thing worked exactly like a fast-food drive-thru, which is precisely what left him speechless.

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"So the rumours are true. You can order a drive-through beer in South Africa in 2026. We might be cooked."

The East London drive-thru surprise

His incredulous reaction struck a chord with viewers, many of whom were quick to point out that this concept is not nearly as new or rare as he seemed to think. South Africans flooded the comments with examples from their own towns.

While the moment felt wild to him, locals treated it as old news. One viewer even noted that Mthatha has had a drive-thru bottle store since 2008, while others pointed to similar setups in Komani, Randburg and Ceres.

View the TikTok video below:

See Mzansi react to the unusual liquor stop

South Africans in the comments on the page could not resist sharing their own experiences and opinions.

@Nzwaybha said:

"Komani had it first 😘"

@ali.wdwestuizen asked:

"Is this the only one in South Africa? 😅"

@Dr A Myolwa shared:

"And we've been using it for years 😂 Especially when I'm with my daughter, and I wanna stock my mom's wines 🤣😝"

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@Noodle 🫧 added:

"Went to Australia a few years ago and found out these are very normal there! Crazy!"

@Wild Gamer Out noted:

"There is also one in Randburg; it blew my mind when I found out"

@Aphiwe Magwevana pointed out:

"Mthatha has had a drive-through since 2008"

@luvomakapela joked:

"Tim, didn't you say 1, brother, the rest of them 5 cans? I live just down the road 🤧"

More Briefly News stories on liquor

• SA wowed by Shoprite Liquor’s drive-thru in viral TikTok video as a woman filmed herself using the unusual service, leaving Mzansi impressed by the convenience of getting liquor without leaving her car.
• South Africa amused by drive-thru liquor store in photo after a viral image introduced many Saffas to the concept and prompted others to reveal that similar stores already exist in different parts of the country.
• “The Bayede Special” left Mzansi stunned by KZN SPAR’s meat and beer combo when a Richards Bay shopper filmed the unusual combination at a local store, prompting Mzansi to react to the unexpected pairing.

Source: Briefly News