The wine and agricultural industries have once again spelt out the devastating effects of the reinstatement of the ban on alcohol sales announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday.
Vinpro said the reinstated ban would result in significant revenue losses – in addition to the billions already lost since lockdown was implemented in March this year. The job losses would affect up to a million people in the liquor industry value chain, according to the industry body.
GrainSA said the first ban on liquor sales had seen an accumulation of the supply of raw materials which could not be stored for extended periods and could not be exported. “A second ban only puts more pressure on the system and has far-reaching financial and ecological consequences,” GrainSA said.
The revised regulations prohibit the sale and transportation of alcohol, except when it is required for industries producing hand sanitisers, disinfectants, soaps, or alcohol for industrial and household cleaning. Alcohol can also be transported for export purposes, as well as from manufacturing plants to storage facilities.
