Level 1: Alcohol Sales Return to Normal, Nightclubs Are Still Closed
- President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Sunday evening and eased many regulations
- President Ramaphosa moved the country to Alert Level One and normal trade of alcohol sales are now permitted
- The President also announced that certain gatherings will be allowed but nightclubs will remain closed
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On Sunday, 28 February, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on developments in the country's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The President made various changes to the regulations, including moving the country to Alert Level One.
Curfew was moved from midnight to 4am and alcohol sales will now return to normal. According to Ramaphosa, alcohol will be on sale as normal except during the hours of curfew.
Although alcohol is now open, the President mentioned that nightclubs will remain closed. Ramaphosa spoke about gatherings being permitted and social distancing being observed but made sure to speak on nightclubs on their own.
Source: Getty Images
Business Insider reported that although curfew is shorter than before, only permitted workers would be allowed outside of their place of residence between midnight and 4am. A report by News24 stated that there was an estimated loss of R36.3 billion in retail sales due to the booze sales being opened and closed constantly.
Briefly.co.za earlier reported that Ramaphosa brought in some good news by moving the country to Alert Level One. Ramaphosa had a range of new measures in place as sites for vaccination will be expanded across the country, including rural area.
New admissions to hospitals have fallen, as well as deaths and less than 10 000 new infections have been reported compared to December last year when South Africa recorded close to 90 000 new cases.
Public gatherings will once again be permitted but will have to adhere to social distancing protocols as well as size limits. International travel restriction would be relaxed, 33 land borders will remain closed while 20 will stay open.
Briefly.co.za previously reported that Mzansi lost R38 billion during the liquor sales bans that have been imposed intermittently since the country went into lockdown in 2020. The country's liquor industry has revealed that it lost just over R36 billion in sales revenue because of the three bans imposed by President Cyril Ramaphosa's government.
Ramaphosa explained that the booze bans were aimed at reducing alcohol-related trauma cases in hospitals and to free up space for Covid-19 patients during a surge of infections.
The liquor industry further shared that direct excise tax lost during the bans was R8. 7 billion while the tax revenue loss for the state amounted to R29.3 billion, according to the industry’s economic impact assessment report.
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Source: Briefly News
