Alcohol sales ban was not thought through and 'has no merit', says SAB 23 February 2021 - 16:20 The reduction in trauma cases also correlates with other tightened restrictions such as curfews and limitations on gatherings, argues SAB. File photo. Image: 123RF/Vladislavs Gorniks South African Breweries (SAB) has argued that the government’s assertion that its decision to ban the sale of alcohol was taken carefully is without merit. “It quite manifestly was not, in that the government had not commissioned any proper investigation into the deleterious effects of such a ban and was therefore not in a position to have any regard to the issue,” said Richard Rivett-Carnac, SAB vice-president of finance in a replying affidavit.