The liquor industry has praised President Cyril Ramaphosa for not banning alcohol sales as he took the country to adjusted Level 2 in response to surging Covid-19 cases that have put the country on the brink of a third wave.
A report by Euromonitor International has documented the extraordinary growth of the illicit alcohol trade in 2020 as a direct consequence of the prohibition of alcohol sales.
MZANSI S FEARS OF LEVEL 3 LOCKDOWN RISE! Christopher Moagi
Comments SAAPA is calling for restrictions on alcohol advertising and sales to help slow the spread of Covid-19 infections. Photo by Gallo Images/Netwerk24 / Jaco Marais.
AS the number of new Covid-19 infections continues to rise, fears are growing that harsher lockdown restrictions will be put in place again.
The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) in Mzansi has been calling for restrictions on alcohol advertising and sales to help slow the spread.
The association said in a statement: “We have called on the government to impose considered restrictions now to decrease harmful drinking and the associated flouting of Covid-19 protocols. While, as an organisation, we have never been unsympathetic towards job losses in industries that rely on alcohol sales, our priority is to advocate for public health, safety and well-being.”