Engineering news reports: – Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of the move to adjusted Alert Level 4 Covid-19 restrictions and the accompanying ban on alcohol sales, the South African Liquor Brandowners Association (Salba) is requesting government to reassess its measures and to focus on its vaccine rollout rather than prohibiting alcohol sales.

The Beer Association of South Africa (Basa) meanwhile, reports that it is seeking legal advice on the “inexplicable” fourth alcohol ban in the interest of protecting jobs and livelihoods.

Salba states that government should implement more effective Covid-19-curbing measures, including addressing its handling of the vaccine rollout, which will have greater success in curbing the sharp rise in infection rates during the third wave – a sentiment shared by Basa.

Inefficiencies in the widespread rollout of the vaccine, the organisation says, are directly compromising the business and economic activity of South Africa and, without implementing a widespread, efficient vaccination programme, there is no possibility of enabling the country to start the long process of economic recovery.

In terms of the alcohol sales prohibition, Salba says such an action will place jobs at risk at a time when the government does not have the fiscal resources to provide support for those workers who find themselves unemployed.

“The [alcohol] industry strongly [asks] the government to explain its decision to enforce a complete ban on alcohol sales for 14 days, despite a lack of evidence to demonstrate its role in driving up current infection rates,” Salba says in a statement.

“Many more businesses will now find themselves on the brink of closure as a result of the latest 14-day ban and no financial relief being made available by government,” Basa says in a statement.

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