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The impact of South Africa alcohol bans on spirits 7th May, 2021 by Melita Kiely
South African spirits brands have been hit hard by a series of government bans on the sale of alcohol as part of the fight against Covid-19. But they fear that without compensation, more lockdowns could push them under.
South Africa has been hit with a number of alcohol bans during the last 12 months
Prohibition measures have repeatedly stung spirits producers and retailers in South Africa over the past year. While all nations have had to take drastic action to curb the spread of Covid‐19, affecting the trade on a global scale, the recurring alcohol bans in South Africa have put additional pressure on the sector there.
A general view of liquor for sale on December 03, 2020 in Durbanville, South Africa. It was reported the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) has recommended the restriction of alcohol sales amid fears of a second COVID-19 surge . Picture: Gallo Images/Jacques Stander
The alcohol industry has released a statistical analysis to support their argument that the reduction of trauma admissions during the Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown could not be primarily attributed to the banning of alcohol.
The analysis sought to draw attention to other factors, including curfew, which has been mainly cited, to be considered and not for the focus to be on alcohol, saying it was not the only thing on which restrictive measures were imposed during the lockdown.
Data shows that booze bans don t work, says drinks industry SA s drinks industry is worth about R101bn to the country s GDP. File photo. Image: Sebabatso Mosamo
SA’s drinks industry wants the government to reconsider future alcohol bans on the grounds that bans do not work but instead put livelihoods at risk.
The industry’s call comes in the wake of new data published on Thursday that claims there is no evidence the alcohol bans implemented during lockdown worked to reduce the number of trauma admissions to hospitals or that they curbed the spread of Covid-19.
“You have to be extremely careful making the claim for causality,” said independent data expert Ian McGorian who, along with Prof Mike Murray from the University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, conducted the analysis.