Tops Special: A Beginner's Guide to Finding and Judging a Bottle Store Deal

Published: 30.10.2026 4 min read

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Quick answer: In South Africa "Tops" usually means tops! at SPAR, the liquor brand SPAR launched in 2000. A "Tops special" is a promotion at one of its stores, and it differs by outlet. Check the date, compare the price per unit and remember you must be 18 or older.

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Last updated: October 2026. Sources: Wikipedia (Spar South Africa), Financial Mail (2024).

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What counts as a special?

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Type	Meaning	Check
Price cut	Lower shelf price for a time	Compare with the normal price
Multi-buy	Cheaper per unit for more units	Do you need the quantity?
Bundle	Mixer or glass included	Is the extra worth it?
Seasonal pack	Festive or event packs	Dates and stock

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Beginner steps

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1. Decide what you need and how many people you are serving.
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2. Find the special on the SPAR site, app or shelf tag.
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3. Compute the price per 100 ml.
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4. Compare with one other chain, for example Checkers LiquorShop.
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5. Buy only what you will use.
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Where Tops sits in the market

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Financial Mail reported 913 Tops stores in November 2024. Business Day reported in March 2026 that Shoprite had overtaken Tops by outlet count. For shoppers, competition is good news because it pushes chains to run sharper promotions.

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Rules and responsibility

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• 18 or older to buy.
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• Licensed trading hours vary by area.
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• Keep non-alcoholic options and food available.
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• Arrange a sober driver.
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Pros and cons

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Pros

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• Plenty of outlets.
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• Easy to combine with grocery shopping at SPAR.
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Cons

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• Prices vary by independent owner.
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• Specials can end quickly.
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Frequently asked questions

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What does Tops mean?

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Usually tops! at SPAR, SPAR's liquor chain.

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Is every Tops special national?

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Not necessarily; check your outlet.

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Can I buy online?

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Availability depends on the store and app coverage.

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A worked example: is the deal worth it?

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Imagine two offers on the same type of drink. This is arithmetic to teach the method, not a quote of real shelf prices.

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Offer	Price	Volume	Price per 100 ml
Bottle A (750 ml)	R150	750 ml	R20.00
Bottle B (1 litre)	R190	1000 ml	R19.00
Multi-buy: 2 x 750 ml for R280	R280	1500 ml	R18.67

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The multi-buy looks best per 100 ml, but only if you really need two bottles. If one bottle would sit in the cupboard for a year, the single 1 litre bottle might be the smarter buy.

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Timing your purchase

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Occasion	What tends to happen	Tip
Long weekends	Queues and low stock on popular lines	Shop mid-week before the weekend
Month-end Friday	Pay-day crowds	Go early in the day
Black Friday	Retailers push promotions	Check against the normal price you noted
December	Festive demand	Buy early and store properly

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Tops compared with other ways to buy

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Route	Pro	Con
tops! at SPAR	Often next to a SPAR for one-stop shopping	Prices vary by independent owner
Supermarket liquor (Checkers, Pick n Pay)	Loyalty programmes	Narrower range at some outlets
Bulk chains (Ultra Liquors)	Case pricing	Need transport and storage

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Reading a liquor shelf tag

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A tag usually shows the product name, size, price and sometimes a promotional flag. Learn to read four things quickly: the volume (750 ml, 1 L, 340 ml cans), the pack count (single, 6-pack, case of 24), whether the price is a member or standard price, and the end date of the promotion. If any of these is missing or unclear, ask a staff member before you take the item to the till.

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Common categories and what to compare

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Category	What to compare	Typical mistake
Beer and cider	Price per can or bottle, case versus six-pack	Buying a case when a six-pack would do
Wine	Price per bottle and per 750 ml equivalent for boxed wine	Assuming boxed wine is always cheaper
Spirits	Price per 100 ml and bottle size (750 ml versus 1 L)	Ignoring the larger bottle
Ready-to-drink	Price per can against mixing your own	Paying for convenience without noticing

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Frequently asked: returns and receipts

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Keep your receipt for any liquor purchase. Policies on returns differ by store and licence, and opened bottles are normally harder to return than sealed ones, so ask the store about its policy at the till rather than assuming.

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Sources

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• Wikipedia: Spar (South Africa)
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• Financial Mail, 28 November 2024
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• Business Day, 2 March 2026
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Wikipedia: Spar