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Alcohol industry expects Ramaphosa to ease restrictions

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The National Liquor Trade Association says it is expecting President Cyril Ramaphosa to relax the restrictions placed on the alcohol industry when he addresses the nation on Sunday.

The Association says the restaurant has been hard hit particularly by the current curfew under lockdown regulations.

Ramaphosa recently chaired meetings of the National Coronavirus Command Council and the President’s Co-ordinating Council.

The meetings reflected on the rate of COVID-19 infections as well as vaccination and assessed prevention measures in force under the adjusted Alert Level 3 of the National State of Disaster.

The Association’s convenor Lucky Ntimane says allowing patrons to buy alcohol only if they are vaccinated, would lead to a violation of people’s rights.

“We feel that this is a complex issue because if we are going to say taverns need to only allow people who have vaccinated will only be guided by policy that the Department of Health is going to take as government as well as what is the way forward in terms of vaccination are we having a mandatory vaccine, strategy as a country or it is only in public spaces but we are still waiting for government to consult with us but we still, however, think that the vaccine passport as a way to allow people to access taverns is not a way to go.”

In the video below from July 11, the alcohol industry reacts to the continued sales ban under Level 4 of the lockdown:

 

Western Cape Liquor Authority to conduct safety operations to prevent trauma cases

The Western Cape Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, says the province’s Liquor Authority and the Compliance and Enforcement units are going to be conducting a number of operations this weekend in an effort to prevent trauma cases.

Fritz has urged residents to not drink and drive as public hospitals are under severe pressure due to increasing numbers of COVID-19 infections.

He says extra policing will be deployed to monitor compliance and ensure that citizens observe the regulations.

“It’s the end of the month and the outright ban on the purchase and transport of alcohol has been eased. Please consume alcohol responsibly. Please observe and comply with the provisions pertaining to alcohol in the Disaster Management Act,” says Ministerial Spokesperson Wade Seale.

Seale says they have seen a spike in cases and cannot afford for hospital beds to be occupied by patients presenting in trauma units with alcohol-related injuries.

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