If lockdown laws continue to be flouted we will shut down the beer taps – brewers

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 08:31 am

The Beer Association of South Africa, which incorporates the Craft Brewers Association South Africa, Heineken and the South African Breweries, on Wednesday threatened to reduce alcohol provide to establishments flouting the Covid-19 alert level 2 policies announced via the government.

“Following recent reviews of alcohol stores breaching the degree two lockdown regulations, the Beer Association of South Africa (BASA) has dedicated itself to figuring out organizations found breaking the regulation and cutting off their supply,” stated BASA chief executive Patricia Pillay.

“Beer producers will be asking for the small print from municipalities and provincial liquor authorities of companies whose licences have been revoked on account that sales resumed and will quit the provide of alcohol to them.

We will proceed to blacklist such agencies as section of our ongoing pressure to motivate accountable alcohol distribution and consumption.”

Pillay stated that while most retailers and restaurants are complying with the lockdown regulations, her company has been receiving reports of businesses that are selling and serving alcohol outside prison buying and selling hours.

“We have also had reviews of outlets not adhering to social distancing protocols and thereby putting the fitness and safety of their customers at risk.

Many South Africans drink moderately and safely except any unfavorable affect on the public fitness system. But, unfortunately, there are too many humans who drink in extra and endanger people’s lives,” she said.

“Together, as a society, we need to discover a way of curbing this adverse cycle of alcohol abuse.

It is therefore imperative that all function gamers comprehend the significance of accountable and reasonable alcohol consumption throughout and after the Covid-19 pandemic.”

BASA said it was once committed to aiding the government’s enforcement efforts towards corporations breaching the lockdown regulations.

“We do this in consciousness of the dangers of alcohol abuse, as well as the need for the alcohol industry to be sustainable.

South Africa can surely now not find the money for any other clampdown on a area that supports one million livelihoods,” said Pillay.

“We encourage residents to document all incidents of illegal activity linked to the sale and consumption of alcohol throughout the lockdown by way of calling the toll-free hotline 0800 014 858 that has been set up by way of the alcohol industry and administered through the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa.”

She said to date the hotline has received severa calls on corporations contravening the regulations, which have been referred to the South African Police Service and the national and provincial liquor authorities.

“The Beer Association of South Africa will continue working with government, the restaurant industry and other key stakeholders across the grant chain to come up with options that address the immoderate consumption of alcohol in communities; to shield the 414,886 livelihoods the beer industry helps and to prioritise lives in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic,” stated Pillay.

Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane this week wrote to eating places which have been flouting Covid-19 alert degree two regulations, urging them to desist.

In a statement, Kubayi-Ngubane’s spokesperson Hlengiwe Nhlabathi-Mokota stated the tourism branch had received numerous complaints about non-compliance, particularly the sale of takeaway alcohol and non-adherence to bodily distancing protocols.

(IOL)