The first weekend, post-payday, is coming up in South Africa (SA) and the hardest challenge will be finding comfort in the reality that it will most likely be alcohol-free.
Was SA government harsh for prohibiting alcohol sale?
The government has implemented a harsh — but necessary — 21-day lockdown in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The sale of cigarettes, other forms of tobacco and alcohol has been prohibited during this period, ushering in a collective cold turkey no modern South African civilisation has ever experienced.
In the view of the government, enforcing an alcohol-free SA is the best form of defence in a war against an unseen enemy.
Could cold turkey turn alcoholics desperate?
Health organisations have warned though, that this harsh restriction could breed a level of desperation that holds “unforeseen circumstances”.
The reality is, South Africa — according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) — ranks fifth in a list of countries with the highest levels of alcohol consumption.
For the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA), this fact raises concerns about the mental state of many alcohol drinkers, heading into yet another weekend with dry throats.
“The one is that people who are heavy drinkers, or alcoholics could drink other substances as a substitute for alcohol. [There is] no doubt that some people will attempt to circumvent the regulations and we urge the government to put steps in place to minimise such occurrences,” the organisation said in a statement.
Law enforcement officials in SA have done their part in closing down on detractors and arresting anyone caught selling alcohol during this lockdown.
How are Southies surviving alcohol-free SA?
For the most part, Southies have adhered to the alcohol-free regulations but this does not mean that they are patting themselves on the back for being model citizens.
We took a look at the trending #AlcoholFreeSA to find the best testimonials about how life in lockdown without liquor has been.
