The operational times for the sale of liquor under lockdown level 3 has been outlined by government.
As of 1 June, South Africa will move into level 3 of the lockdown.
The sale of liquor in licensed premises will now be permitted for the period between Mondays and Thursdays from 09h00 and 17h00.
The announcement was made by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma during a media briefing by the National Coronavirus Command Council.
However, Dlamini-Zuma said onsite consumption is prohibited, and e-commerce sales will be permitted subject to the same onsite trade days and times.
The minister also said no special or events liquor licenses will be issued for the duration of the state of national disaster.
The minister also had bad news for smokers.
The sale of tobacco, tobacco products, e-cigarettes and related products remains prohibited, except when they are destined for the export market.
There have been a lot of whispers and rumours with regards to the lifting of the alcohol ban at Level 3, and Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has made a comprehensive announcement on the sales of booze.
The COGTA minister, essentially left with the ‘last word’ on how Level 3 regulations would work, has previously been accused of being skeptical about putting ale back on the shelves altogether.
Dlamini Zuma and the battle with booze
It’s believed the veteran politician made the case for keeping alcohol under wraps ‘until Level 1 of lockdown’ last week, sparking robust discussions among the members of Cabinet. However, she has confirmed that this will not be the case. The nation’s 63-day wait to learn about how we could buy alcohol again has been settle
The rules for buying alcohol during Level 3 of Lockdown
Here are all the directives Dlamini Zuma has shared, explaining when – and where – we can purchase our liquor from.
- Home consumption allowed only
- This means bottle stores, supermarkets and liquor traders can sell alcohol over the counter
- Bars and tavern remain banned
- The sale of alcohol will be allowed for four days a week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- The stores selling booze will be allowed to operate from 9:00 – 17:00
- Drinking on the premises is banned, and no ‘special events’ will be granted one-off liquor licenses.
Level 3 alcohol sales – potential problems lie ahead
The resale of alcohol faces a number of hurdles. When the strict rules on lifting prohibition come into effect, there is a chance that crowd management could prove difficult for the authorities to handle. The controversial decision to ban the booze has made people more desperate than ever for a sip of the good stuff.
In fact, the proposed regulations on when South Africans can buy beer are quite rigid. This means that the illicit market still has the potential to carry on booming. Level 3 restrictions also fail to accommodate the owners and staff attached to licensed liquor-serving venues.
The plans are a step forward, but there’s still a long way to go before drinkers can return to the ‘old normal’. Booze will be on sale at 9:00 on Monday 1 June, and will continue through Level 3 and beyond
