In a move seen as part of a drive to avoid another ban on liquor sales, an association representing major beer manufacturers in SA, including SAB and Heineken, said on Wednesday that it will be identifying establishments that breach the level 2 lockdown regulations, and cut off their supply.
The Beer Association of SA (Basa) said that while the majority of outlets and restaurants are complying with the lockdown regulations, it has received reports of businesses selling and serving alcohol outside the legal trading hours.
There have also been reports of outlets not adhering to social-distancing protocols, thereby putting the health and safety of their customers at risk, the association said.
Basa CEO Patricia Pillay said beer manufacturers will request the details from municipalities and provincial liquor authorities of businesses whose licences have been revoked since sales resumed and will stop their supply of alcohol.
“We will continue to blacklist such businesses as part of our ongoing drive to encourage responsible alcohol distribution and consumption,” Pillay said. “Many South Africans drink moderately and safely without any adverse impact on the public health system. But, unfortunately, there are too many people who drink in excess and endanger people’s lives.”
Pillay said stakeholders need to find ways of curbing the destructive cycle of alcohol abuse. “It is critical that all role-players recognise the importance of responsible and moderate alcohol consumption during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The association is committed to supporting the government’s enforcement efforts against businesses breaching the lockdown regulations, she said.
“We do this in recognition of the dangers of alcohol abuse, as well as the need for the alcohol industry to be sustainable. SA can simply not afford another clampdown on a sector that supports 1-million livelihoods.”
The industry’s moves to emphasise responsible alcohol intake follow recent government bans on the sale of liquor. The industry also recently said it would invest R150m in harm-reduction programmes over the next year, and implement new measures to address various concerns including drunk driving, underage drinking, and alcohol abuse.
In August, the government lifted the controversial ban on the sale of alcohol it had re-introduced in July. Sales were initially prohibited when the country went into lockdown late in March. The first ban, which lasted about 10-weeks, cost the liquor industry about R18bn in lost revenue and led to the loss of more than 100,000 jobs. A similar number of losses is projected due to the second ban, which was reintroduced without notice.
The ban has also deprived the government of much-needed tax revenue — an estimated R11bn a month — at a time when its finances are stretched due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Justifying the ban, the government said it was critical to reduce the alcohol-related trauma load on hospitals and to free up desperately needed resources for Covid-19 patients.
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