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Agbiz welcomes move to alert level 2 (AL2), including the lifting of the ban on alcohol and tobacco product sales

Published: 21/08/2020

The Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) strongly welcomes the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa over the weekend to move from alert level 3 to alert level 2 and to open up the economy as far as possible, within obvious measures to curb the spread of Covid-19. “The lifting of the ban on alcohol and tobacco sales is very good news and we commend the government for this necessary and well-considered decision,” says Agbiz CEO Dr John Purchase.  - Agbiz media statement issued on 21 August 2020

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The Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) strongly welcomes the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa over the weekend to move from alert level 3 to alert level 2 and to open up the economy as far as possible, within obvious measures to curb the spread of Covid-19. “The lifting of the ban on alcohol and tobacco sales is very good news and we commend the government for this necessary and well-considered decision,” says Agbiz CEO Dr John Purchase.


Under alert level 2, sales of tobacco products are allowed, and alcohol sales are permitted between 9:00 and 17:00 at liquor stores from Monday to Thursday, while on-site consumption of alcohol at restaurants and pubs is permitted until 22:00 in the evenings, also over weekends.
“We trust that the industries in the liquor and tobacco value chains can now begin to recover. However, government will need to take the necessary steps to stop the illicit trade that has flourished in the prohibition period. Since the introduction of sales restrictions in March, many stakeholders in the these industries have recorded serious economic and livelihood losses. South Africa’s agriculture value chain has a central role to play in driving economic growth and social stability in the country, including in these specific industries.”

Dr Purchase says that since the state of disaster was announced in March and the country was put on full lockdown, Agbiz, together with other industry organisations, have engaged with government to allow the wine industry to complete the 2020 harvest and then to allow wine exports and domestic trade to continue.

“Negotiating a social compact through Nedlac dialogue and engagement was absolutely key to convince government of the devastating effects the alcohol and tobacco ban had on various industries and livelihoods in the liquor and tobacco value chains, not just in the agricultural sector. Through the Nedlac platform, we engaged at a top level with government, business, labour and civil society. We have been working with all these sectors towards establishing agreement in finding targeted solutions for the challenges linked to alcohol abuse and its impact on the capacity of the health sector to cope with Covid-19.”

“While we live in an increasingly imperfect and uncertain world, also in South Africa where brazen corruption seemingly knows no boundaries, constructive dialogue is the only way to rebuild our country. We now have to focus on saving enterprises and livelihoods, attracting investment and creating jobs.”

Enquiries:
Dr John Purchase
Agbiz chief executive officer 
john@agbiz.co.za

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