Under Level 2 restrictions, liquor stores could sell alcohol for off-site consumption between Monday and Friday and had to operate between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Taverns and restaurants were reserved for guests until 22:00. During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments have had to make clear and bold decisions to protect people`s lives. For example, in response to increasing pressure from the alcohol industry, the South African government has introduced four temporary bans on the sale of alcohol. There is no doubt that temporary bans have been effective, particularly in reducing cases of trauma in hospitals. The reduction in the availability of alcohol has brought relief to the South African healthcare system during the current crisis. While a casino can accommodate as many people as its space allows, divided by two, spectators are expressly prohibited at sports matches, even for outdoor events, even for less than 500 people, and regardless of social distancing or other measures put in place. The sale of alcohol for off-site and on-site consumption is permitted under conditions of licence and regular hours of operation for liquor stores. But alcohol is not allowed to be sold after 11 p.m., the president said. 4. a) Companies shall comply with all sectoral health protocols aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 in the sector concerned. b) Sectoral health protocols may address issues such as work rotation, staggered working hours, shift systems, remote working arrangements, special measures affecting the most vulnerable or similar measures to ensure social distancing, protect workers or limit congestion on public transport and at work.
(c) Sectoral health protocols, where yet to be developed, shall be developed and published by the Cabinet members responsible for a sector in consultation with the Cabinet member responsible for health. On Thursday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa placed the country below alert level 1 from Friday. WATCH: Lockdown rules have been further relaxed as SA moves to alert level 1 Meanwhile, the effectiveness of reducing alcohol availability with temporary sales bans is well documented. For example, a study analyzing the volume of trauma cases at the Worcester Regional Hospital in South Africa found that: Whether or not they abide by the curfew — or don`t sell alcohol — nightclubs are still explicitly banned. Civil Protection Act: Regulations: Alert Level 1 during the COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown He added: “Banning or restricting the sale of alcohol has done nothing but condemn those who depend on the alcohol industry to poverty and a life of poverty. Given our unemployment, we must do everything we can to support our economy while continuing to fight Covid-19. “Any kind of delay is good for the industry because it allows us to open up value trade, get more people back to work, create jobs and open new restaurants. The last 18 months have shown how decimated the industry has been. Positive actions like this really improve the morale of our restaurateurs. Uncertainty and economic pressures mean increasing unpredictability of buyer behaviour and sluggish spending behaviour in the short and long term. Less frequent store visits and price sensitivity mean that the risk to retail growth is mitigated as cross-category trade and basket penetration decline.
Temporary bans on the sale of alcohol work by reducing the availability of alcohol. When alcohol is less available, the damage caused by alcohol products decreases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization advised governments to restrict access to alcohol during lockdowns to protect the population and contain the spread of the virus. ENCA: `Lockdown restrictions on alcohol sales partially lifted` A report by Vital Strategies has shown how governments and development agencies are incentivising the alcohol industry and increasing the industry`s profits and reach despite the burden of death and disability caused by alcohol. The European Union Delegation to South Africa confirmed this interference and was exposed for inviting large front groups from the alcohol industry and alcohol producers in Europe to intervene together in the development of the South African government`s alcohol policy solutions. He acknowledged that the red list ban for South Africans has put South Africa at a disadvantage “as the UK is South Africa`s largest source of tourism in the Northern Hemisphere and an important trading partner”. South Africa will remain at lockdown level 1, the health ministry said Thursday, surprising the alcohol industry, which had anticipated sales restrictions, bringing relief to the tourism industry, which has suffered border closures and faced interprovincial travel bans a year ago. 71. (1) During a state of national disaster, rental housing courts established under the Rental Housing Act 1999 (Act No. 50 of 1999) shall: (a) establish fair procedures for the urgent consideration of disputes; or (b) may issue an urgent ex parte order for looting, including restoration of the use of housing or access to services, provided that an interested party has 24 hours` notice requesting that a hearing be convened without delay.
“We call on the government to consider alternatives to alcohol bans in the future, precisely because alcohol bans have not proven to be an effective measure to contain COVID-19. On the contrary, they have created a second pandemic, which is poverty at our alcohol retailers. The fourth temporary ban on alcohol sales was recently lifted as the country moved to level 3 lockdown. As of September 13, 2021, the country has continued to move to Level 2 and alcohol availability limits have been further weakened. As a result, off-site spirits can be open Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On-site liquor outlets such as bars and restaurants are allowed to serve alcohol until 10:00 p.m. every seven days of the week under license conditions. And despite the permission to make alcohol more available, the Basa Group is already warning against new limits on alcohol availability. But a fourth wave of COVID-19 is looming in early December as the vaccination campaign is slow. The government may need to make new decisions to contain the coronavirus through alcohol policy solutions.
Business Tech: `South Africa eased restrictions on alcohol sales` Ramaphosa said the third wave of the pandemic lasted longer than the previous first two waves, but rates of infections, hospitalizations and deaths dropped dramatically in all provinces.