The South African tourism, restaurant and alcohol industry has pleaded with the government not to impose stringent lockdown restrictions that will damage the economy. Image via: Adobe Stock
The South African tourism, restaurant and alcohol industry has pleaded with the government not to impose stringent lockdown restrictions that will damage the economy. Image via: Adobe Stock
The Limpopo Health Department has been reviewing some fairly sobering proposals over the past few days, after MEC Phophi Ramathuba suggested that a ‘no vaccine, no alcohol’ policy could become law in the province.
No vaccine, no alcohol proposals criticised
The controversial idea would give liquor traders the right to refuse service to unvaccinated patrons, with the logic being that alcohol-related trauma cases ‘clog-up’ hospital wards when COVID-19 infections are high and, therefore, something must be done to account for those who are vulnerable to both the effects of alcohol and COVID-19.
The method behind the apparent madness is far from convincing for most observers, however. Risham Maharaj, who serves as an MPL in Limpopo, is concerned about the ‘prejudiced nature’ of Ramathuba’s utterances.
“Phophi Ramathuba’s remarks are prejudiced. She cannot curtail the rights of Limpopo residents, simply because they display vaccine hesitancy. While it is important that as many people as possible go out to get vaccinated in order to protect the broader population, this should be done while respecting the rights of citizens who choose not to vaccinate.”
“The decision by MEC Ramathuba and the Limpopo Department of Health to approach the liquor industry to withhold their services to those that are unvaccinated is coercive. The department needs to devise strategies to encourage vaccination that is not biased against those who choose not to vaccinate.” | Risham Maharaj
Liquor industry ‘cannot afford’ unvaccinated sales ban
As the DA’s spokesperson on health for Limpopo, Maharaj’s warning comes with a fair bit of weight behind it. Vaccine hesitancy surveys show us that about 25% of South Africans won’t get a COVID-19 jab. Under the MEC’s proposals, the booze industry wouldn’t be able to sell to about a quarter of its market – a loss that vendors can ill-afford.
“The MEC has repeatedly stated this week that her department had started dialogue with the liquor industry in the province, to refuse the sale of alcohol to unvaccinated customers. A move to refuse alcohol sales to unvaccinated customers may prove to be economically detrimental to the liquor industry in the province.”
“Liquor retailers are still limited to only selling liquor for four days in a week, and they are still reeling from the last ban on alcohol sales. Furthermore, disruption to the sale of alcohol may lead to more job losses in a province that already has unacceptable levels of unemployment and poverty.”
