South Africa: Opposition criticises ‘petty’ ban on alcohol

South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has criticised the government’s continued ban on the sale of alcohol and cigarettes during the country’s lockdown, calling the decision “petty, arbitrary and unworkable”.

DA leader John Steenkamp said the ban was depriving the government of millions of dollars in taxes, while putting money into the pockets of criminal bootleggers. 

Alcohol sales have been banned since South Africa first entered into lockdown for the coronavirus six weeks ago. The move was met with loud protests from the struggling industry, as well as the general population, which is used to South Africa’s fine wines and craft beer.

The drive behind the ban was to prevent drunk driving and drunken fights in order to free up vital hospital beds to treat people with coronavirus. 

However, enforcing the ban has been problematic, with security forces accused of beating and even killing people as they patrol poorer neighbourhoods for signs of alcohol. 

South Africa’s alcohol industry has urged the government to, at the very least, relax the terms of the clampdown.

Reports indicate the ban may be loosened in the next few weeks but there is no solid evidence of that happening yet.

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