Liquor industry threatens to defy Level 4 alcohol ban

Liquor industry stakeholders are meeting on Monday to decide if the alcohol ban will be defied or not.

By / / Viral
alcohol ban

A wave of furore has settled over South Africa, following the president’s decision to reinstated a ban on alcohol as the country shifts to Level 4 lockdown.

As reported by SABC News, the liquor industry has revolted against this decision and based on the outcomes of a meeting taking place on Monday, the ban could be defied.

Will liquor industry boycott alcohol ban?

The National Liquor Traders Council (NLTC) is one of the first organisations to take Cyril Ramaphosa to task over the decision to prohibit the off-and-on-site sale and consumption of alcohol.

In his Sunday address, the president revealed that the decision to move to this drastic measure was owed to the strain alcohol-related incidents have had on the public healthcare system.

“Our Ministerial Advisory Committee has advised that the limited restrictions previously imposed were not that effective and that a prohibition will ease the pressure that is placed on hospital services by alcohol-related emergency incidents,” he said.

However, this reasoning, according to the NLTC, however sensible it may be, is not an acceptable sacrifice of the amount of lives that will be impacted by the alcohol ban.

The alcohol group’s Lucky Ntimane confirmed that a meeting with industry stakeholders will take place on Monday where a decision will be made on whether or not the alcohol ban will be defied.

“We are not going to let this decision by the President stand. We are going to take him on, we are going to consult with our members today. If needs be, it means we will defy this ban. Who is going to support us for the next two weeks? What is better? Breaking the law for supporting our families? For us, we feel that we need to be taken seriously and we will do that, and whatever is necessary,” Ntimane warned.

The Beer Association of South Africa (BASA) has also expressed its disappointment with the decision, warning that this prohibition only means good business for the illegal liquor trade which already accounts for a whopping 22% of the liquor market.

“We urge National Government to implement interventions that save lives without sacrificing livelihoods as we fight the third wave over the coming weeks,” the association pleaded.

Social media reacts to no alcohol for two weeks

The return of the collective cold turkey was not welcomed news, at all. Here are some reactions we picked out from social media.