Calls for Liquor Amendment Bill Grow as Concerns of Harsher Lockdown Raised

Monday, May 24, 2021 at 4:41 PM by Reeshni Chetty

- The South African Alcohol Policy Alliance (Saapa) told the government that they are welcome to table the Liquor Amendment Bill again

- The Democratic Alliance stated that the government needs to deny attempts for a liquor policy change using the national state of disaster

- The DA has also called on the government to bring formal changes in terms of the Liquor Amendment Bill

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The Democratic Alliance stated that the ruling party's government needs to reject attempts to push a liquor policy change through the national state of disaster. Proposals were made by the South African Alcohol Policy Alliance (Saapa) to which the DA responded too.

The DA stated that it had become easy for the SA government to 'target' the liquor sector recently instead of addressing issues faced within South Africa's healthcare system. The opposition party has called on the government to bring formal changes in through the Liquor Amendment Bill.

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These changes will be made in place of another alcohol sales ban. The Saapa stated that the government was welcome to put the Liquor Amendment Bill back on the table.

Liquor amendment bill, calls grow, possible booze ban — The South African Alcohol Police Alliance has called for the government to bring the Liquor Amendment Bill back to the table. Image: Stock Photo
Source: Getty Images

The concerns about a liquor ban coincide with news that the third wave has hit South Africa. According to BusinessTech, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize warned of the possibility of additional restrictions in the country given the rise of Cov id-19 infections.

Mkhize confirmed that the government has discussed the rising numbers and that 'at some point' they would be looking at implementing additional restrictions.

HeraldLIVE reported that Saapa stated that the government should not stall until the healthcare system is inundated with issues and should rather introduce restrictions now.

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Briefly News previously reported that Mkhize cautioned that the number of new infections is rising signalling that the country is entering a third wave of the deadly virus.