EFF, Cope reject calls for alcohol to be sold during lockdown
The Beer Association of South Africa (BASA) is the latest to join the calls for the sale of alcohol during the national lockdown.
The sale of alcohol during the 35-day national lockdown has been prohibited as the government tries to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The association, which represents the Craft Brewers Association, Heineken and South African Breweries, wants government to permit “off-consumption” beer trade – allowing people to buy alcohol but not consume it where it is sold.
“In the last 15 days, we have had news of many beer outlets shutting their doors with several people being retrenched. With an industry that employs close to 250,000 people, these are many lives that are now being placed at risk,” BASA said in a statement
“Secondary industries are also impacted by the shutdown i.e. glass and bottle manufacturers, print and design companies, transportation, retailers, equipment manufacturers, electricians, plumbers, farmers and many more.”
BASA joins the Gauteng Liquor Forum, which also raised concerns about the looming job losses in the industry.
The forum has threatened to go to court unless government lifts the current ban on alcohol sales.
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But the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Congress of the People (Cope) have rejected the continued calls for alcohol trade to continue.
“It is a call not based on scientific rationale, as there is nothing essential about alcohol and it will only serve a destructive purpose at a time when we all need to practice maximum discipline and self-control,” said EFF spokesperson Delisile Ngwenya.
Cope spokesperson Dennis Bloem shared the EFF’s sentiments, saying several other industries were also hit by the lockdown.
“We fully understand the financial impact the lockdown is having on business in general not only on alcohol sales,” said Bloem.
“We hope that all of us must understand and appreciate that all these measures were instituted to save lives. This is a war of life and death.”