South Africa’s liquor traders on Monday expressed disappointment over President Cyril Ramaphosa’s imposition of an alcohol sales ban during the new Level 4 coronavirus restrictions starting this week, warning that they were considering defying these restrictions on their livelihoods.
Issuing the warning, National Liquor Traders Council convenor Lucky Ntimane said some industry members were considering defying the alcohol sales ban because the act deprived their employees of the need to earn an income to support their families.
Announcing the two-week alcohol sales ban on Sunday night, Ramaphosa said the new restrictions would help slow down the further spread of the current highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus.
“You mean the president can make an announcement that subjects our liquor traders to almost perpetual poverty without providing other means that are going to cushion us against the blow that this ban is going to bring to our traders? That is unfair that the industry continues to be targeted this way. That’s how we feel,” Ntimane said.
He added: “We are not going to let this decision by the president stand. We are going to take him on. We are going to consult with our members today.”
The Beer Association of South Africa also expressed similar sentiments following the government’s latest move to ban alcohol sales that would keep the local beer drinkers’ throats dry for the next 14 days.
NM/jn/APA