Another booze ban will destroy livelihoods: Beer Association
As the country awaits President Cyril Ramaphosa's latest Covid-19 address on Sunday evening, concerns have been raised about the possibility of yet another alcohol ban.
The president is scheduled to address the nation at 20:00 on new measures to deal with the third wave of Covid-19 infections.
The Beer Association of South Africa (BASA) says President Ramaphosa must not only save lives, but also livelihoods.
"BASA urges government to focus on interventions that protect those most at risk of succumbing to Covid-19, while protecting desperately needed jobs and livelihoods," says BASA spokesperson, Nicole Mirkin.
"Critically, our country does not have the option of another hard lockdown including another alcohol ban.
"While South Africa’s slow start to its Covid-19 vaccine roll-out is regrettable, imposing further restrictions that will lead to further job losses and bankruptcies is not the answer.
"The only way out of this terrible situation is the implementation of sensible and balanced restrictions and a full-scale vaccination programme.
"Business cannot be expected to pay the cost for government’s failings in this regard.”
BASA says an alcohol ban will only further increase the illegal alcohol trade.
"The illicit trade in alcohol, already comprises 22% of total alcohol consumption and resulted in R11.3 billion being lost to the fiscus in 2020," Mirkin explains.
"There is also little observance of Covid-19 protocols in illegal outlets and increased levels of interpersonal violence and crime.
"Furthermore, the three previous alcohol bans resulted in over 7 400 jobs lost in the beer industry, R14.2 billion in lost sales revenue and more than a R7.8 billion loss in taxes and excise duties.”
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