With the President pushing the country into Alert Level 4, the alcohol ban has been met with both the liquor industry and South Africans slamming the move.
This is the fourth alcohol ban for the country since March 2020 as South Africa records 1,9 million COVID-19 cases and over 61K deaths.
On Sunday, President Ramaphosa banned the sale of alcohol for both on-site and off-site consumption. While Level 4 is said to last just 14 days, until 11 July, the liquor industry said the ban will only increase illicit trade.
Meanwhile, the National Liquor Traders Council warns that some members are considering defying the ban on the sale of alcohol because employees need to earn a living.
They argue that as much as lives need to be saved, livelihoods need to be protected. The previous alcohol bans resulted in over 7,400 job losses in the beer industry.
In his address the president cited that the reason for the alcohol ban was because of alcohol-related emergencies which are putting pressure on the already strained healthcare system.
South Africans have been critical of government’s slow vaccine rollout programme and the reopening of Charlotte Maxeke Hospital which they believe could make more of a difference than another alcohol ban.
You know what works better than a #AlcoholBan?
Vaccines.
— Johann Biermann 🇿🇦 (@JohannBiermann1) June 27, 2021
Things you cannot get in South Africa right now:
1. Alcohol.
2. COVID-19 vaccines. #AlcoholBan— Rory Petzer (@RoryPetzer) June 28, 2021
I Won’t Survive This, Two Business Are Already Gone, Never Received A Cent From The Relief Funds, My Government Stole Billions, They Dug Our Graves While We Were Still Alive During The First Wave Now They Are Burying Us Alive Through Debt #FamilyMeeting #Alcoholban
— Mandla Duch Thabethe (@Dutchbang25) June 27, 2021
#FamilyMeeting #AlcoholBan
No alcohol for level 4More job losses.
Less salaries.
Ramaphosa is killing the economy and country 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/HmKTyjTGDe— Xolani Ngcobo (@XolaniNgcobo167) June 27, 2021



