The country risks seeing another spike in alcohol-related incidents if alcohol is collected at wine shops, if industry stakeholders succeed in a lawsuit to resume alcohol sales.
Pressure is mounting on the government to resume the sale of alcoholic beverages, and the restaurant industry is adding its voice to those who want the courts to order the lifting of the extended ban on alcohol. The South African Restaurant Association (RASA) on Thursday urged restaurants to take part in a poll to strengthen their Supreme Court application to resume alcohol sales.
The survey will also assess the relationship between the impact of the ban on alcohol on restaurant closures and the impact of curfew on turnover.
“Through these surveys, we collect the data that is needed to combat our case,” said RASA CEO Wendy Alberts.
The lawsuit is pending after the South African brewery (SAB) alcohol giant appealed to the courts last week to challenge the constitutionality of the alcohol ban. SAB said it was the last resort to protect workers, consumers, suppliers and livelihoods supported by the brewery.
Police say they seized about 1 million rubles worth of alcohol from the owner of a tavern in Thornhill, Eastern Cape, on December 31, 2020. File.
However, instead of following the legal path, the South African Beer Association will demand an urgent meeting with the President and various ministries to reveal the rationale for extending the ban and how it affects the beer sector.
“We will also reiterate our proposal to resume off-site consumption trade within the existing curfew, restrictions on meetings and events,” said BASA CEO Patricia Pillay.
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But if the alcohol industry succeeds, drinkers in the country can once again flock to bottle shops to make up for lost time.
Judging by the previous resumption of alcohol sales, this could lead to another spike in alcohol consumption and, ultimately, alcohol-related incidents during the first week, said South African Alcohol Police Director Maurice Smithers.
“I think … in the first week there will be a rush to buy again, as well as a little stock, but it is leveling off. This is what we saw in both cases after the lifting of both bans. There was a jump in the first week or so, “he said.
Smithers said this indicates a lack of long-term strategies to manage alcohol consumption, which is what led to the ban in the first place. Based on a speech by US President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC on January 8, the message came home, Smithers said.
Last week, Ramaphosa told his party that measures should be taken to reduce alcohol abuse through a combination of legislative and public mobilization.
“The fact that the President mentioned this is a positive thing, because, as we understand, the speech on January 8 is mainly an order of the ANC to the government, so we would expect to hear something similar in the Address to the Nation in February … that the President of the country confirms what was said in his statement of January 8, and, we hope, puts forward a plan of the government in this regard, “he said.
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