Beer Industry to Deploy Patrols to Enforce COVID-19 Rules

CAPE TOWN – The brewing industry said Monday that 500 patrol cars were being deployed across the country to ensure that COVID-19 compliance was in effect at liquor outlets.

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This was also being done to ensure that customers wore masks, socially distanced, and felt safe when visiting taverns, bars, and more.

During a briefing on Monday, the South African Beer Association (Basa) and other stakeholders reported that a series of stricter measures were being put in place to ensure that health and safety regulations are adhered to during this holiday season and beyond. .

The patrollers would work in conjunction with the police.

Patricia Pillay, Basa’s CEO, said one of the reasons this was being done was to ensure they continued to operate because the industry simply couldn’t afford to shut down again.

“Across the country, these 500 patrol cars will see the visible presence of people walking into taverns, shebeens and restaurants. And when you see them, keep in mind that they will report to institutions to licensing boards, etc. “Said Pillay.

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SA Liquor Merchants Association coordinator Lucky Ntimane said it had introduced training programs for liquor store personnel.

“We currently have a program called Tavern Compliance Focus Groups, which seeks to educate liquor dealers to make sure they are compliant and make sure their customers wear masks and follow all protocols,” he said.

Ntimane said there would be zero tolerance for liquor dealers who ignore the rules.

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