Alcohol ban: Now SAB takes legal action over booze ban

South African Breweries (SAB) will take legal action against the government following the latest alcohol ban as the impact on jobs and the economy was unsustainable the firm announced on Wednesday.

SAB said in a statement that the National Coronavirus Command Council had taken its latest decision to ban alcohol “with no consultation or explanation” and that alcohol consumption did not raise the risk of contracting the virus.

“The use of blanket bans is unsustainable and continues to exacerbate the job loss and economic decline across the beer and alcohol value chain,” SAB said.

However, SAB said it was “very sensitive” to the difficulties and plight the country faced in the fight against COVID-19. 

“SAB fully understands the seriousness of this third wave and agrees that lawful and reasonable measures are needed to curb the spread of the pandemic to save both lives and livelihoods,” SAB said.

These measures include earlier curfew times to limit movement, reduced indoor and outdoor capacity at gatherings, heightened law enforcement, and heightened adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions. 

“There is no scientific link that the consumption of alcohol raises the risk of contracting COVID-19 especially if alcohol is consumed safely and responsibly in the comfort of one’s home,” SAB said.

“SAB regrets government’s unfortunate decision to ban the sale of all alcohol for the fourth time in the last 18 months and is deeply concerned by the continued discrimination of the legal alcohol trade, resulting in a burgeoning illicit industry in the country. The current ban, which is unsubstantiated by robust scientific evidence, has been implemented at a time when the industry was already gearing itself for future stability and was ready to play its part in the country’s economic recovery,” SAB said.

“SAB believes it is left with no other alternative but to defend its rights and take legal action, to protect its business and urgently overturn this decision. This move seeks to gain policy certainty, greater transparency in decision-making for the future sustainability of its business and value chain,” the firm said.

“This additional challenge does not detract from the first legal challenge instituted by SAB earlier in the year, and that challenge is still in process,” SAB said.

SAB said the firm and its industry partners had made submissions to the NCCC, but its recommendations had not been considered and a yet another blanket ban had been announced without consultation. 

“SAB maintains its willingness to partner with government and its peers in the industry who remain committed to supporting the fight against COVID-19. SAB implores government to urgently strengthen the partnership with business to accelerate the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine – protect millions of lives and livelihoods,” SAB said.