Happiness from taverners that level 2 doesn t close the booze tap 30 May 2021 - 20:17 By TimesLIVE Patrons enjoy a drink in a pub in Melville, Johannesburg. The National Liquor Traders Council has welcomed the government’s decision not to place any restrictions on the sale of alcohol outside of curfew hours. Image: Alaister Russell
The National Liquor Traders Council (NLTC) has welcomed the government’s decision not to place any restrictions on the sale of alcohol when SA moves to adjusted level 2 lockdown from Monday.
This means that taverners will be permitted to continue trading as normal, subject to the revised curfew hours and limits on indoor gatherings, as well as their licence conditions.
National Liquor Traders Council spokesperson Lucky Ntimane said, according to the Euro-Monitor report, illicit traders were now embedded in communities, with sophisticated supply and distribution networks.
South Africa’s alcohol industry has been at odds with the government on its choice to impose a series of trade bans to make hospital beds available for Covid-19 patients and hospitals free of alcohol-related trauma cases.