South Africa lifts alcohol ban for third time 2nd February, 2021 by Nicola Carruthers
Alcohol bans in South Africa have ‘decimated the industry and threatened its long-term survival’, a trade group has warned, as the country removes restrictions for the third time.
South Africa has imposed three bans on alcohol over the past year
On 1 February, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa eased some restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, including the country’s third ban on alcohol sales.
Retailers can now sell alcohol between 10am and 6pm from Monday to Thursday, and licensed outlets can serve drinks on-site from 10am until 10pm, when they have to close.
CT woman expected in court for breaking lockdown regulations on alcohol The police s Noloyiso Rwexana said that 200 bottles of cider and wine were seized. Police raided a Bishop Lavis home on 29 January 2021 and confiscated alcohol to the value of R9,000. Picture: @SAPoliceService/Twitter
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CAPE TOWN - A woman is expected in court on Monday after thousands of rand worth of liquor was seized over the weekend.
Police raided her Bishop Lavis home on Friday.
The police s Noloyiso Rwexana said that 200 bottles of cider and wine were seized. Upon their arrival, the confiscated alcohol worth R9,000 and arrested the suspect. She is charged with contravening the Disaster Management Act regulations and she is appearing in court.
“SAB believes that any ban, including the current one goes far beyond what is reasonable and necessary to contain the spread of the virus and unlawfully restricts various rights that are enshrined and protected by our constitution. These include the right to freedom of trade, the right to human dignity, privacy, and the right to bodily and psychological integrity.
“Challenging the constitutionality of the ban, which removes the South African public’s right as adults to responsibly consume a beer safely in the privacy of their own homes, is an integral part of SAB’s action,” they said in a statement earlier this month.
South African alcohol industry views on prohibition supported by international survey Crisis-driven COVID-19 related prohibitions on alcohol beverages promote the development of parallel illicit markets.
Entire industries are plunged into a financial abyss, reducing much-needed government revenue. Source Monday, 25 January 2021, 11:48 Generic image. Photo: Phinehas Adams, Unsplash
NATIONAL NEWS - The South African alcohol industry reaffirmed its objections to the Government s use of prohibition in the struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that the unintended consequences specifically the rapid rise of illicit liquor production and distribution far outweighed the efficacy of the ban.
The industry said research conducted by the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT) analysed the economic and social impacts of strict restrictions on the production and/or consumption of alc