A wave of reprieve was felt across South Africa when President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the alcohol ban would be lifted under the adjusted Level 3 lockdown restrictions.
Ramaphosa lifts alcohol ban: Here are the do’s and dont’s
On Monday, the president revealed that after various consultations, and considering the sharp decline in Covid-19 daily hospital admissions, it would be appropriate to cautiously lift a number of restrictions.
One that mattered the most to many was the alcohol ban. Under the newly adjusted restrictions, these are the rules pertaining to the sale, distribution and transportation of liquor:
- off-site consumption is permitted from 10h00 to 18h00, from Mondays to Thursdays. excluding Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays;
- by licensed premises for on-site consumption is permitted, from 10h00 to 22h00 everyday;
- duty-free shops, registered wineries, wine farms. microbreweries and micro-distilleries are allowed to sell alcohol during operating hours;
- consumption of liquor in public places. except in licensed on-site consumption premises, is prohibited;
- registered wineries, wine farms. microbreweries and micro-distilleries may continue to operate in offering wine-tastings and other brew tastings and the selling of wine and other brews to the public for offsite consumption is permitted, subject to strict adherence to the curfew and strict adherence to social distancing measures and health protocols.
- the transportation of liquor is permitted; and
- the sale and consumption of liquor in contravention of points (1) and (3) is an offence punishable by a hefty fine or, even worse, no less than six months in prison.
Social media reacts to return of liquor sales
After a month of a collective cold turkey, South Africans from all corners of the country relished the prospect of walking into a liquor outlet again.
Here are some of their reactions:
#NowThatAlcoholIsBack Can't wait to hear Sithi Sithi back at the groove pic.twitter.com/BmSE2FOWP7
— (@ThabangTweezus) February 2, 2021
#NowThatAlcoholIsBack I am no longer going to the gym
— Nangu uBhungane (@Sbonelo_Ian) February 2, 2021
Vele I was forcing things pic.twitter.com/bwwBPaviHi
#NowThatAlcoholIsBack let's all be responsible of our actions. Let's not forget others make profit from Alcohol, so think twice before you act cause if they ban Alcohol again imagine how many families will suffer. Don't even try drinking and driving, request Uber! Siyezwana mus? pic.twitter.com/gyeyroN9Wi
— Cellular® ❁ (@Cellular_ZA) February 2, 2021
#NowThatAlcoholIsBack let me start searching for reasons to cancel my valentines day plans pic.twitter.com/mZDNEDwHeu
— Ish (@RealMRMILE) February 2, 2021
#NowThatAlcoholIsBack We no longer going to buy stationery with our niece's school bags in taverns pic.twitter.com/9T35zND7LJ
— SkatanaSaVaal (@kele_Tebza) February 2, 2021