Second alcohol sales ban causes mass frustration

THE lockdown restriction roller-coaster continued for South Africans on Sunday when President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the immediate suspension of alcohol sales nationwide on Sunday evening.

This announcement was not well received among Zululanders, sparking confusion, anger and mixed emotions as the Covid-19 pandemic looks to spike significantly over the next few weeks.

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South Africa appears to be one of only a handful of countries that have banned alcohol sales during the pandemic – a notion which has made headlines worldwide – which has only added to citizens’ frustrations.

While countries including the Bahamas and Botswana put a temporary hold on the sales of alcohol during strict lockdowns earlier in the year, South Africa appears to be the only one with a second, seemingly indefinite ban on alcohol sales.

Ramaphosa said the reintroduction of the ban was necessary to curb the spread of the coronavirus and freeing up hospital beds occupied by patients who fall victim to alcohol-related incidents.

South Africans are up in arms and will no doubt revert to black market purchases or homemade brews.

But is there sound logic to the alcohol sales ban?

Findings from a study published by the World Health Organisation in 2016 that looked at individuals aged 15 and older and their alcohol consumption, showed that South Africa ranks fifth out of 189 countries in terms of individual alcohol consumption.

According to the study, an estimated 31% of the country’s population consumed alcohol, with the remaining 69% abstaining from alcohol for at least 12 months.

The study also highlighted that South Africans binge drink, getting intoxicated fast with often life-threatening consequences.

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