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Liquor industry says business has improved despite current COVID-19 restrictions

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The Liquor Trading Industry says business has improved this festive season despite the current COVID-19 restrictions.

In September, South Africa moved to Alert Level 1 allowing alcohol sales until 11pm at bars and restaurants and with liquor stores operating at normal business hours.

The emergence of the Omicron variant had earlier sparked fears among traders, of another crippling lockdown this holiday. This as the liquor industry has been subjected to multiple bans in South Africa since the onset of the coronavirus.

However, the industry was spared another business closure this time around.

In his address to the nation in September, President Cyril Ramaphosa allowed for the sale of alcohol to continue, while the National Coronavirus Command Council monitors COVID-19 infections.

The industry says it is grateful that another alcohol ban has not been implemented.

National Liquor Traders Council calls on government not to impose another harsh lockdown:

National Liquor Traders Council Lucky Ntimane says: It has been a very tough few months that the alcohol industry had to be subjected to alcohol bans but we are seeing a slight recovery.

We are saying to government allow the economy to flourish. There is really no reason whatsoever in the future to institute alcohol bans and restrictions that will see our people facing poverty.”

But the growing incidence of alcohol abuse continues to taint this multi-billion rand industry.

Road fatalities are to a large extent, blamed on drunk driving.

Meanwhile, calls urging President Cyril Ramaphosa to lift the curfew on December 31 are gaining momentum.

The Restaurants Association of South Africa says it supports citizens in their call to lift the restriction.

It says there is no scientific evidence that the lifting of the curfew, will lead to an influx of infections.

CEO for Restaurants Association of South Africa Wendy Alberts says: “We absolutely support all of the groups in the hospitality and tourism industry for the lifting of the curfew. The reason for lockdown was to adequately prepare the healthcare system and assign necessary beds. What we do know is that there is absolutely no evidence that curfew prevents the spread of the virus or no scientific data to say by lifting the curfew that we will see an influx in infections.

What we do know for certain is that the hospitalisations are lower and that there’s no impact on the health system currently in place. What we do know is that the economy is heavily impacted our industry has been heavily impacted.”

Both members of the Restaurants Association and the Liquor Traders Council were severely affected by the previous restriction on alcohol trade that was implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The country is currently at the tail-end of the fourth wave.

But there are still a lot of uncertainties about the pandemic and how the high infection rates seen in Europe and other parts of the world could affect us.

South Africans are encouraged to continue to maintain a safe social distance, wear masks and sanitize regularly.

 

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