Continued alcohol ban inconsistent with global trends, says liquor industry

Date:

The local liquor industry says it’s concerned that SA’s ban on alcohol during the lockdown is inconsistent with the global approach.

SA is one of very few countries that continue to prohibit all sales of alcohol, says a local industry association. File photo
Image: 123rf.com /Joshua Resnick

According to the SA Liquor Brandowners’ Association (Salba), SA remains one of the few countries in the world that continues to prohibit all sales of alcoholic beverages during lockdown, with more developing economies abandoning the initial prohibition approach.

Sibani Mngadi, spokesperson for Salba, said the country continues to suffer severe revenue losses and a potential long-term negative impact on the economy as a result of the lockdown.

“On April 4, India lifted its six-week prohibition on the sale of alcohol which was meant to prevent gatherings, allowing alcohol sales in bottle stores for off-site consumption. A day before, Thailand took the same approach, allowing the off-consumption sale of alcohol.

“Both countries have allowed e-commerce and home deliveries of alcoholic beverages as a means to limit non-essential movement of people. On-consumption bars and restaurants remain closed to maintain social distancing, which is a critical element of the prevention of the spread of coronavirus,” Mngadi said.

He said that SA, Panama and Sri Lanka are countries where all forms of alcohol sales are prohibited.

SA initially banned even the exports of its globally recognised wine and other alcoholic beverages to world markets that had no prohibition on the sale of alcohol. Exports have since been allowed under level 4 of the lockdown.

“Other big African economies — Nigeria and Kenya — did not adopt a total ban of alcohol since the launch of their national response to the epidemic.”

Nigeria opted for closing on-consumption venues while keeping off-trade open.

Kenya explicitly listed alcohol as an essential good and allowed for off-trade consumption. Last week Kenya also announced an easing of on-consumption sales of alcohol to include sales “30 minutes before a meal, during the meal and 30 minutes after a meal at restaurants,” he said. Bars and nightclubs remain closed.

“As Salba, we call on the government to reconsider its prohibitionist approach and to align with international best practice in permitting limited and closely supervised sales of alcohol through retail channels.

“Permitting retail sales and delivery of alcohol under strict conditions would not only limit losses to the fiscus, but will also provide a vital lifeline for jobs across the entire value chain, from agriculture to the packaging and retail sectors.” Mngadi added.

TimesLIVE (TMG Digital)

BY KGAUGELO MASWENENG

6 COMMENTS

  1. If you sell alcohol we will have mayhem and distruction, people can’t behave themselves as it is

    • Liquor we might not support it all of us to be sold if we still need to follow the lockdown restrictions better cigarettes I don’t think there is anyone who can manage to control himself when they are drunk except that alcohol will be controlling them then tell me about churches???God is going to strike you with a big punishment you can not close churches how come think twice always before you put yourselves in dangerous situations

  2. I totally agree with Raymond Squires. Plus relief money will be spent on cigarettes and liquor. I would hate to think that free money would be used on that when hunger is a reality amongst a lot of people.

Leave a Reply

More like this
Related

Excitement all round as new Port Alfred Easter Festival launches

“We’re not just presenting the Port Alfred Easter Festival...

Easter weekend water safety alert

NSRI, lifeguards and the emergency services are appealing to...

Stop/Go on N2 between Makhanda and Fish River Pass

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL)...
%d bloggers like this: