The reinstatement of the prohibition of alcohol sales caught most South Africans unawares and while the majority of drinkers agree with the rationale behind the ban from a medical point of view, concern for the loss of jobs is mounting, said M4Jam, a gig technology company that connects organisations to communities through its mobile platform.

According to Georgie Midgley, M4Jam’s CEO, more than 1 000 South Africans responded to a digital survey they have created via their mobile devices last week. She said 62 per cent of those responding said they do drink alcohol and of those, two-thirds (66 per cent) said they agreed with the reinstatement of the ban.

“What is interesting to note is that, 79 per cent of respondents believe the government has made the right decision by reinstating the ban, which supports the findings of a previous alcohol-related survey conducted by M4Jam where almost half of the respondents felt that the government was wrong by lifting the ban,” Midgley said.

The downside, however, is that although people understand the basis for reinstating the ban there is a massive concern around the job losses and its impact on people’s ability to feed their families,” she said.

It comes as no surprise, she said, that 89 per cent of drinkers who took the survey said they had not stocked up on alcohol supplies before the ban was reinstated, even though the second wave of Covid-19 infections was peaking and the government’s decision was anticipated.

“75 per cent of respondents who drink alcohol thought some warning should have been given, with 69 per cent saying they would have stocked up, if given the chance. More than half (53 per cent) of those who drink alcohol said they will continue to drink during the ban, with an even larger majority (58 per cent) believing the ban wouldn’t stop friends and family from drinking either. However, only 28 per cent felt they would be able to find alcohol to buy during the prohibition.

“Of those who knew a source, 66 per cent said they had a back-door supplier, 9 per cent said their local shops would still sell alcohol, and the rest believed they would still be able to find alcohol somewhere. 63 per cent of drinkers said alcohol prices had begun to climb as a result of the ban, with the most common price premium (42 per cent) being up to R50 more than regular prices. 24 per cent reported seeing prices at R250 and upwards of regular costs for the same items.

“In terms of the alcohol ban’s intended effects to stem the tide of related injuries, trauma and vehicle accidents, only 47 per cent of respondents were less worried about the safety of themselves, friends and family with the ban in place. In fact, 30 per cent of respondents strongly disagreed that they should be less worried.

Despite these beliefs, 22 per cent of respondents said they thought the ban would reduce vehicle accidents in their communities, 21 per cent said public disturbances would be reduced, 21 per cent felt related hospital incidents would decline, and 19 per cent believed violence in general would be reduced.

“58 per cent of respondents still felt they were better off with the ban in place, and 55 per cent were positive the country’s healthcare facilities would benefit from the ban.

“Open-ended commentary from respondents was overwhelmingly focused on the fear related to job losses, with many recognising that – as has been the case with illicit cigarette sales during lockdown – formal jobs in legal, tax-paying businesses may be lost while the black market thrives,” said Midgley.