Industry wants science behind Easter weekend booze ban

ALCOHOL industry associations have slammed the government's ban on off-site consumption trade over the Easter weekend, saying it will cause irreparable damage to the sector and questioning the rationale for the decision meant to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sibani Mngadi, chairperson of the South African Liquor Brandowners Association, said the industry and its value chain had been devastated by three bans over the past 12 months, totalling 19 weeks of lost days of trade.

“The toll on livelihoods in the liquor value chain has been significant, leading to the closure of businesses, loss of jobs and income, and a decline in investment. The cumulative impact of the last three alcohol bans led to a loss in sales revenue of R36.3 billion for the alcohol industry, putting 200 200 jobs at risk in the nation's informal and formal economy and leading to a R29bn tax revenue loss for the government,” he said.

Mngadi said they had repeatedly stated that any further bans would cause irreversible damage to small- and medium-sized businesses and that they would be unlikely to survive. Mngadi added that alcohol bans provided a foothold for the illicit trade which is building momentum and poses an enormous risk to society in the longer term.

Mngadi said while the decision to keep the on-site consumption trading environment open under the licence conditions and limitations of the curfew was welcomed. “We are, however, deeply disappointed with the decision to restrict off-consumption trade over the weekend and we do not understand the rationale for the decision.

“Our constant call is for government to share the data that they base their decisions on, with the objective of understanding the science behind the decisions so that we can find other ways, in future, to limit the spread of the virus while protecting the livelihoods that are supported by our sector, not just for the Easter weekend, but for all the restrictions placed on the industry over the past year. To this end, we have submitted a request in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act that the government explain the science behind it. We remain hopeful that the government will share the data with us in due course,” he said.

Another organisation that critised the government’s decision is the Beer Association of South Africa. Its chief executive officer, Patrica Pillay, said: “This new ban will hit some of our members the hardest, especially those who rely on brewery visits and the resulting off-con trade that takes place over the Easter weekend as people travel down to the coast and other holiday destinations,” she said.

Rico Basson, MD of Vinpro, said they were extremely disappointed with government’s decision to ban off-consumption sale of alcohol for four days over the Easter weekend.

“The wineries follow strict Covid19 protocols in their tasting rooms and we cannot understand the rationale for this current ban,” said Basson.