‘Restrict alcohol sales and it’ll be a big babelas’
● Liquor traders fear strict regulations could cause chaos
While most people welcomed the announcement of an eased lockdown, liquor traders have warned overly strict regulations may lead to chaos.
On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the country’s lockdown would be eased to level 3 from Monday next week, opening up most industries, including the liquor trade.
“Alcohol may be sold for home consumption only under strict conditions, on specified days and for limited hours,” Ramaphosa said.
Sean Robinson, of the Liquor Traders Association of SA (LTASA), representing more than 1,400 off-consumption liquor stores, said overcrowding of outlets was a serious concern.
He said the government’s proposed trading hours were Monday to Wednesday, 8am to midday.
“These proposed hours will significantly concentrate demand into only four hours a day, for three days a week.
“Excessive queuing and crowding will make social distancing impossible,” Robinson said.
He said looting and violence were real possibilities.
On May 8, the association wrote to the government with proposals on how it could operate.
Among other things, it asked for trading to be allowed from Monday to Friday from 9am-6pm and on Saturdays from 9am-4pm.
“Our proposed hours will spread demand and enable retailers to cope while ensuring employees and customers adhere to safety protocols,” he said.
Robinson said the government acknowledged receipt of their e-mail and proposals, but they had so far not received any response.
“We are not sure if they have considered what we put forward, but our feeling is that we will operate under very strict conditions,” he said.
The association’s other proposal is the restriction on quantities sold per transaction.
It suggested consumers be allowed to buy any five items of liquor, consisting of one tray of beer or ready-to-drink convenience packs (24 cans or bottles — non-returnable), one crate of beer or ready-todrink large packs (12 bottles — returnable), one box of wine or sparkling wine (six bottles), one unit of box wine (one box), one bottle of spirits or liqueur or fortified wine (one bottle).
“A consumer can mix and match any combination of the above, but may not buy more than five items in total,” Robinson said.
The limit per transaction would be simple to communicate to consumers and staff, and practical to enforce, he said.
He said in preparation for reopening, the association had suggested that their employees be allowed to start work four days before opening to the public, to enable them to put all relevant safety measures in place on time.
It is not yet known if the government will allow this.
SA Liquor Brand Owners Association (Salba) CEO Kurt
Moore said the organisation had previously submitted proposals to the government for their industry to start trading under level 4.
Salba represents manufacturers and distributors of liquor products in the SA industry, and members include Heineken, Distell, KWV, First Cape Wines and Stellenbosch
Vineyards. Under level 3, no bars, taverns or shebeens will be allowed to open, but a consortium of liquor trader associations, representing 50,000 township-based taverns and shebeens countrywide, has asked the government to be allowed to operate as off-site liquor sales points.
The association’s Cassius
Mogoeng said it would help manage a “mass descent on very limited stockists”.
“The consortium supports limited hours and daytime sales, but believes that without tavern sales, members of the public will resort to travelling further distances and will put themselves at risk by using public transport in their attempts to try to reach outlets.”
The National Coronavirus Command Council is scheduled to brief the media on Tuesday afternoon around the regulations relating to level 3.
The department of trade and industry did not respond to requests for comment.