Alcohol ban: Now tavern owners urge government to reverse decision

South African liquor traders have called on the government to reassess its decision on the alcohol ban saying the industry was already ‘on its knees’.

National Liquor Traders Association conveyor, Lucky Ntimane, said the industry was “deeply concerned” by the government’s latest decision to  enforce an alcohol ban as part of the adjusted Level Four Lockdown that kicked in on Monday 28 June. 

“As an industry, we are on our knees. We have suffered many months over the last year when our members could not earn their own living.  We have engaged with our members and government where we conveyed our concern regarding the decision to ban alcohol for 14 days and again expressed our commitment to work together and observe the regulations,” Ntimane said.

“We urgently call on the government to reassess this decision at the end of the 14-day period as it precludes our members from being able to earn a living. We ask that the government give us regulatory certainty so that our members know when they will be able to trade again. Our taverns are a vital part of our communities’ economies, supporting many lives,” he said.

“We continue to be proactive in our harm reduction initiatives to improve behaviour so we can continue to trade safely and protect our livelihoods and have strict COVID-19 protocols in place to ensure trading at taverns can be done in a safe environment. “

Ntimane earlier said that the illegal industry had boomed during the previous hard lockdowns while legal tavern owners were struggling for their survival. He warned that a total ban of alcohol sales would only serve to further encourage growth of the illicit trade, which had grown from 12% to 22% of the overall alcohol market by volume.

“All sectors need to pull together to contain the spread of infection and support the health care system to respond adequately in caring for the infected and in rapidly rolling out the vaccine programme to achieve head immunity,” he said.