Lesufi says low trauma proof that alcohol restrictions should stay
- After a fairly peaceful New Year's Eve Panyaza Lesufi has called for permanent restrictions on booze
- SA hospitals recorded few, and in some cases no, trauma cases during a traditionally hectic period in time
- Now, Lesufi has insisted that liquor prices should be raised and containers reduced in size
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The Covid-19 pandemic has brought liquor into the spotlight like never before and this has filtered into 2021.
In reaction to the news that New Year's Eve had seen fewer trauma cases, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has called for permanent restrictions.
In a post to social media, Lesufi says that this is evidence alcohol abusers are a burden on the nation's health care system:
"Here’s proof that alcohol abusers are a burden to our health system. My sincere apologies to alcohol users but the state should continue to reduce the days for the sale of alcohol, reduce alcohol content as well as the size of the containers and make alcohol expensive."
Source: Getty Images
With alcohol already being a highly debatable subject, the politician's comments were met with mixed reactions:
@VillageThaps: "Maybe, build more hospitals and hire more health workers. Maybe, cops start doing their work and arrest drunken driver instead of taking bribes. What about the government improving and promoting public transport so citizens don't have to drink and drive."
@Jandrew_T: "They need to enforce the laws that are there and not make new ones. The vast majority of people that drink alcohol are not a burden on society. Incompetent politicians are just scapegoating again."
@tebzaR1: "Sir but what about the employees that will earn less or lose jobs because of this?"
@SollyMatheba: "No need to apologise MEC, alcohol abuse is a huge burden to the societal fabric. The restrictions should stay until people start taking alcohol responsibly."
@NicoMkhabele: "And make sure that people that make a living out of this business become poor and the only career that is lucrative is politics."
Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that healthcare workers are reported the least traumatic New Year's Eve recorded in recent history.
Medical workers thanked the nation for their cooperation amid Level 3 lockdown conditions.
While Covid-19 admissions kept staff busy, there was an immense decrease in trauma admissions at public hospitals.
Those in the know have chalked up the thankfully quiet evening to the liquor ban in conjunction with a 9 pm curfew.
Victoria Hospital in Wynberg recorded not one trauma case on both New Year's Eve or New Year's Day.
The same can be said for hospitals in Khayelitsha, Paarl and even the usually chaotic Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto.
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Source: Briefly News
