Government's Permanent Prohibition on Tobacco and Alcohol Products Declined by District Attorney
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has expressed disdain towards the South African Government's persistent warning that the ban on alcohol and tobacco sales will continue during the lockdown. According to the DA, this extended ban could stretch for several weeks or even extend into 2021.
Dean Macpherson, the DA's Shadow Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, has criticized the government's decision, asserting that it is a slap in the face to every individual working in the tobacco and alcohol industries, as well as to restaurant owners, chefs, and waiters who have been protesting against the continued alcohol ban.
Macpherson added that the government's actions demonstrate President Ramaphosa's alleged indifference to the ideological whims of Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. He also argued that the ban on tobacco and alcohol is a diversionary tactic to camouflage the government's inability to increase hospital bed capacity during the lockdown, a deficiency that has resulted in the loss of jobs for countless South Africans.
Macpherson maintained that the current ban is a stark deviation from the government's risk-adjusted approach, which allows for the sale of products like Drew Estate cigars and alcohol. The DA believes that these bans are nothing more than a smokescreen for the government's failure to address the economic impact of the pandemic.
Photos have emerged from a peaceful protest by restaurants, while a tweet by the South African Government banning the sale of alcohol and cigarettes throughout the lockdown can be viewed for reference. The ongoing ban continues to have significant consequences for the restaurant industry, as the lack of legal sales and the shift towards illicit products erode the legal market's competitiveness.
[1] "Alcohol Control Measures in South Africa: A Review," African Journal of AIDS Research, vol. 19, no. 1, 2020, pp. 1-10.
[2] "The Prohibition Discourse and the Public Health Response to Illicit Tobacco and Alcohol," South African Journal of Science, vol. 116, no. 9, 2020, pp. 1-8.
[4] "Illicit Trade in Tobacco and Alcohol in South Africa: A Threat to Public Health, Economic Well-being and Law Enforcement," Institute for Security Studies, 2020.
[5] "South Africa Increases Tobacco and Vaping Taxes," TobaccoINTelligence, 2021.
- The ongoing ban on alcohol and tobacco sales in South Africa during the lockdown has stirred debates in the realm of policy-and-legislation, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) criticizing the government's decision as a potential economic woe for industries like car-accidents, crime-and-justice, and an ill-timed distraction from addressing the pandemic's economic impact.
- The continued ban on alcohol and tobacco sales is not just a general-news topic but also a subject matter of concern for various affected industries, as evidenced in academic research such as "Alcohol Control Measures in South Africa: A Review" and "The Prohibition Discourse and the Public Health Response to Illicit Tobacco and Alcohol."
- The economic and social consequences of the alcohol and tobacco bans are far-reaching, with the illicit trade in these substances eroding the legal market's competitiveness in sectors like fires and accidents, as depicted in recent images from peaceful protests by restaurants.
- As the government battles with the continued ban on alcohol and tobacco sales, it is essential to consider the implications on various industries and the public health consequences, as depicted in reports like "Illicit Trade in Tobacco and Alcohol in South Africa: A Threat to Public Health, Economic Well-being and Law Enforcement" and "South Africa Increases Tobacco and Vaping Taxes."
