Alcohol buzz: Not so much in Vryheid

The first day of re-opening bottle stores and selling alcohol in the country did not see locals flocking into liquor stores in Vryheid, as anticipated, like in other parts of the country.
Liquor stores in town were not overwhelmed by a huge number of people coming to buy booze; selling went on as normal as if there hadn’t been a 10-week ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages.
Even though the sale of alcohol has now been permitted again, there are still limitations outlined in the Alert Level 3 Regulations.
The regulations state that the sale of liquor will be permitted between Monday and Thursday from 9am to 5pm. Online sales will be subject to the same times, while no liquor may be consumed onsite anywhere.
Gatherings are still not permitted and should people be found gathering and refuse to be dispersed immediately, they will be subjected to the Criminal Procedural Act of 1977 (Act No: 51 of 1977), which could lead to arrest and detention.
On-consumption premises such as bars, taverns, shebeens and similar establishments will not be permitted to open during level 3 lockdown. However, these establishments may be allowed to sell as off-consumption.
Only licensed premises are allowed to sell alcohol from Monday to Thursday between 9am and 5pm, and this is also applicable to e-commerce delivery. Consumption of alcohol at the place of sale is prohibited. No special or events licences may be approved for the duration of the National State of Disaster.
The South African Liquor Industry praised South Africans for the responsibility they showed on the first day of resumed liquor sales.

Also read: Residents warned to follow lockdown rules

Brandowners’ Association (SALBA) CEO Kurt Moore said, “Today, South Africa really showed what we can do when we work together. We were confident of the professionalism and efficiency of our retailers, and that comprehensive safety protocols would be in place to protect staff and consumers. What stood out, however, is how everyone – from the tavern owners to the supermarket retailers, and from restaurants to consumers – worked and acted responsibly to make this a success.”
Moore pointed out that allowing taverns and restaurants to also sell alcohol broadened the distribution sources and helped reduce the need to queue. South African Breweries (SAB) vice-president of Corporate Affairs and board member of the Beer Association of South Africa (BASA), Zoleka Lisa, said how the brands co-operated to get the message across was to be commended. She said she was especially proud to see the proactive role played by tavern owners to meet Covid-19 safety protocols, “They took the initiative and were hard at work in the days before the opening, preparing their premises for off-consumption sales.”
VinPro CEO Rico Basson added, “We have always sought to work with the government and stakeholders to the benefit of everyone and today we saw how that spirit of collaboration works. This is a good sign, and the actions of all South Africans give us hope. These efforts were never just about trading on day one of Alert Level 3. This was about the long-term, positive reactivation of the industry – one which has a wide and deep value chain – and today, we took the first steps towards reviving the country’s economy.”
The industry, supported by the Liquor Traders Association of South Africa (LTASA) and the Consortium of Liquor Traders Associations (LTA), felt that its hard work and the open collaboration with government and law enforcement had been a huge success.
The agreement between industry, retailers and government also enlisted the support of the Consumer Goods Council South Africa’s Risk Hotline to help monitor and report crimes / illicit activities associated with irresponsible alcohol consumption.

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