[ad_1]
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Monday night. (Photo: Presidency).
- The government is taking steps to limit alcohol consumption as the second wave of Covid-19 infections hits South Africa.
- Curfew hours will be longer, and restaurants and bars will have to close at 10pm during the holiday period.
- The sale of alcohol at retail outlets will only be allowed between 10 pm and 6 pm Monday through Thursday.
South Africans will have to change the way they celebrate during the holiday period, as the government has reinstated longer curfews to limit alcohol consumption in a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Monday, highlighting a “differentiated” approach to responding to the second wave of Covid-19 infections hitting the country.
The number of new cases of infections has increased from an average of 3,800 per day to more than 6,600 per day. Meanwhile, the daily average of deaths from Covid-19 has increased by almost 50% during the same period, from more than 100 deaths per day to around 150 deaths per day, explained Ramaphosa.
In addition to closing some beaches from December 16 to January 3, imposing fines to ensure compliance with security protocol, and curbing large gatherings, including religious events, the government also wants to reduce irresponsible consumption of alcohol.
Curfew hours will be longer, from 11 pm to 4 am Restaurants and bars will have to close at 10 pm, so that staff and customers can get home before curfew. “The curfew is meant to avoid meetings that last late into the night, while allowing restaurants, bars and taverns to continue to operate and earn income,” Ramaphosa said.
The curfew schedule will also apply on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, he said. “This means that we will all have to make changes in the way we celebrate these occasions.”
Sales of alcohol at the points of sale will also be limited, from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Thursday. This is in contrast to the ban on the sale of alcohol that was implemented in South Africa’s initial hard shutdown, which led to widespread pushback from industry members for lost revenue.
Exception for warehouses
Registered wineries and wine farms will be able to offer wine tastings and sales for off-site consumption on weekends. “This exception is being made due to the vital contribution of these establishments to the tourism sector in various parts of the country,” explained Ramaphosa.
But the consumption of alcohol in public spaces will be “strictly prohibited,” he said.
The holiday season restrictions will also be reviewed in early January, depending on the state of the pandemic across the country, he added.
These holiday season restrictions will be reviewed in early January based on the state of the pandemic across the country.
