Tobacco, booze groups slam govt for banning sales throughout lockdown
The Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita) and the National Liquor Traders Council are demanding that government clarify whether it has gazetted the ban on alcohol and cigarette sales throughout the lockdown.
The government tweeted on Wednesday that the ban would be in place throughout the lockdown.
According to the tweet, the purpose is to save lives and protect the health and well-being of South Africans.
The ban on the sale of alcohol and cigarette will remain in place throughout the lockdown period.The purpose is to save lives and protect the health and well-being of our people. #AlcohoBan pic.twitter.com/s2u7XOAeq6
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) July 22, 2020
"The tweet was callous and is in contradiction to previous announcements by government officials such as the president himself and Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu. They have both stated that the ban would be lifted in the not-too-distant future. This tweet is confusing," says Fita chairperson Sinenhlanhla Mnguni.
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The liquor council’s Lucky Ntimane says around R4,2 billion in excise duty and VAT is lost each month the ban is in place.
"We essentially need supporters, as taverns we need support to the value of R20 000 once-off to cover for our losses. But it does not end there, we also want our license fees to be refunded at 75% and also for a moratorium on paying these fees going forward for the next two years.”
Ntimane says a letter of demand has been sent to President Cyril Ramaphosa.