News24 reports that foretelling job losses and the demise of small businesses, liquor industry bodies are considering legal action against the government’s decision to ban alcohol sales for the fourth time since SA’s Covid-19 lockdown began nearly 15 months ago.

The Beer Association of SA (BASA), which represents the Craft Brewers' Association, Heineken SA and SA Breweries (SAB), said on Sunday it "is seeking legal advice on national government’s inexplicable decision to implement a fourth alcohol ban ... in the interest of protecting jobs and livelihoods". BASA indicated: “"As others have pointed out, there is a vaccine against Covid-19, but not against poverty ... Many more businesses will now find themselves on the brink of closure as a result of the latest 14-day ban and no financial relief being made available by government. On the other hand, the latest ban is cause for celebration when it comes to the illicit alcohol industry, which cost the national fiscus R11.3 billion last year alone.” Business Unity SA’s Martin Kingston expressed the hope that the new ban wouldn't affect companies' major investment decisions. He said while relieving the pressure of infections on hospitals was integral, so too was finding a way to prevent small and medium businesses from taking a significant financial hit. The National Liquor Traders said the ban decision was made without consulting taverners "who will be deprived of an income without any financial safety net". The SA Liquor Brand Owners' Association’s (Salba’s) Sibani Mngadi claimed that government did not take into account its proposals to "help to preserve our beleaguered economy".

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ahmed Areff at News24
• Read too, Ban on alcohol sales a huge blow to industry hard hit by Covid-19 lockdowns, at BusinessLive (paywall access only)

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