News24
23 May 2020, 14:41 GMT+10
The alcohol industry has called for the urgent reopening of the manufacturing, distribution and trade of alcohol during Level 3 of the national lockdown.
The country is expected to move to Level 3 on 1 June. Based on a proposed plan around the regulations, the sale of alcohol may be permitted at retail outlets during limited hours. However, the sale of tobacco and alcohol could continue to be banned until the country reaches Level 1 of the lockdown, Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma recently said.
The trade of alcohol supports around one million jobs, according to a statement released on behalf of industry bodies South African Liquor Brand Owners Association (SALBA), Beer Association of South Africa (BASA) and VinPro.
"As an industry, we create employment for over one million people across the value chain, contribute 3% to the GDP of South Africa's economy, and make an indirect tax contribution - VAT, customs and excise revenue - of R51 billion," the statement reads.
Bringing the industry back online is vital, the organisations say, to prevent illicit trade, the illegal manufacture of alcoholic beverages at homes, the looting of liquor outlets, and to prevent further job losses, according to the statement.
READ | Cele: Illicit cigarettes, alcohol existed long before the lockdown
"The eight-week domestic lockdown, as well as the five weeks without exports, has already resulted in the loss of 117 600 jobs. In the craft beer industry alone, there is a further 64% that will not meet their payments by the end of June and 13% have given notice on their premises and announced their decision to staff of their shut down. The 540 wineries have indicated that they will be unable to meet 70% of their payroll obligations at the end of June."
Following recent engagements with government, SALBA, BASA and VinPro have submitted various proposals to the Department of Trade and Industry and Competition, which include safety protocols for the manufacturing, distribution and trading of alcohol. The protocols address transmission risks across the value chain and enables the safety of the workforce, suppliers, retailers, farmers and consumers.
To include taverns, the industry bodies have called for off-consumption trading licences for taverns and microbrewers. They have also proposed the opening of more channels to allow for sales, and to allow consumers enough time for purchases while maintaining social distancing.
The industry bodies have also developed a "click and collect" model for the 34 500 licenced taverns, which reduce shoppers queuing.
"Part of the support for taverns would include the initial free supply of personal protective equipment packages, including sanitisers, masks, gloves, as well as education and training material to meet strict safety protocols," the statement says.
The industry said it was also willing to help with distribution networks in collaborating with the government, to supply PPEs to remote clinics and to deliver vital goods and educational material to communities in need.
"With no/minimal revenue for eight weeks and no certainty of the future, the industry cannot sustain the ban any further, and job cuts are a harsh reality. We hope that the gravity of the current situation is taken into serious consideration by decision makers, as the livelihoods of many people rests in their hands," the statement concludes.
Get a daily dose of Asia Pacific Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Asia Pacific Star.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump says the United States could soon reach a trade deal with India. He believes this deal would...
DHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama is set to address a significant three-day conference of Buddhist leaders this week, coinciding with...
BEIJING, China: China's national soccer team may struggle to stir excitement, but its humanoid robots are drawing cheers — and not...
]LONDON, U.K.: A World Health Organization (WHO) expert group investigating the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic released its final...
Nearly three months after a devastating earthquake struck Myanmar, the country remains trapped in a deepening crisis, compounded by...
Birmingham [UK], July 5 (ANI): Indian skipper Shubman Gill concluded a record-breaking Birmingham Test against England with breathtaking...
FRANKLIN, Tennessee: Hundreds of thousands of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are being recalled across the United States due to a potential...
REDMOND, Washington: Microsoft is the latest tech giant to announce significant job cuts, as the financial strain of building next-generation...
LONDON UK - U.S. stock markets were closed on Friday for Independence Day. Global Forex Markets Wrap Up Friday with Greeback Comeback...
SANTA CLARA, California: Nvidia came within a whisker of making financial history on July 3, briefly surpassing Apple's all-time market...
SACRAMENTO, California: California's multibillion-dollar farms are facing a growing crisis—not from drought or pests, but from a sudden...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump says the United States could soon reach a trade deal with India. He believes this deal would...