Govt sets out new booze regulations
From Monday drinkers will be allowed to buy alcohol from Monday to Thursday between 09:00 and 17:H00, Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel has announced.
But he warned: “No consumption will be permitted, under level 3, for any alcohol on premises.”
The country is set to migrate to alert level 3 of the national lockdown on June 1, when a number of restrictions will be eased, including the sale of booze.
Patel says businesses and consumers will have to adhere to strict rules if the sale of alcohol is to continue.
The minister says no special or events liquor licenses will be issued for the duration of the state of national disaster.
“The regulations themselves will permit alcohol to be sold at any premise that has a license – whether that license is for on-consumption or for off-consumption.
“But the condition of the sale is that it can only be sold in concealed containers for home consumption.”
He adds: “It would allow taverns and registered shebeens and restaurants and so on to also sell alcohol.”
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Various members briefed media on Thursday, detailing how the regulations on level 3 will be treated. Government is under pressure to set out regulations to ensure increased economic activity in a way that will not cause an uncontrollable spike in Covid-19 infections.
All online sale of alcoholic drinks will also be allowed, while distributors will also be allowed to start moving booze around from Friday.
“We have stressed to the industry the continuing risks and they have undertaken to act responsibly,” Patel says.
“We will be releasing more of the details on the commitments the industry is making to ensure that the reopening of the sale of alcohol will not be accompanied by all the negative problems that we anticipated.”
But Patel admits there is a possibility of burdening the health system by reopening the sale of booze.