Alcohol ban strikes twice dashing hopes of Dolphin Coast restaurant industry

Dolphin Coast restaurants and bottle stores are reeling from the shock of government’s about turn on liquor sales.

Restaurants, which have been hoping to be able to offer liquor with meals, have seen their hopes dashed.

They fear that they will have to wait even longer before they again are allowed to serve alcohol.

Marco Bortolussi of popular La Piazza said they remain hopeful that they will be able to trade profitably despite the challenges.

Employing about 60 staff, Bortolussi said if alcohol sales were not back before the festive season, retrenchments would be the least concern.

Many businesses in the liquor trade may have to close.

Old North at Karibu owner Diane Duncan said they face a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, alcohol is not available for sit-down clients and the other, diners are scared of contracting coronavirus.

“Complying with government regulations around Covid-19 has not been easy or affordable, but we have done so successfully since reopening on July 1,” said Duncan, who said government needed to trust the industry more.

“Government needs to realise that if one business goes down, it creates a chain reaction, affecting other businesses and tourism.”

Duncan said lockdown had been emotionally taxing as she battles to find creative ways to keep her business afloat.

She stressed that liquor had to be back on the menu by the Christmas holiday season.

“At the moment it’s as though we – restaurateurs – are all standing in the ocean and about to be hit by a tsunami. If alcohol is not returned, government needs to bring back the UIF TERS scheme. Without it, many of us will have to close.”

Liquor outlet Tops at the Ballito Lifestyle Centre had recently announced the tripling in size of its store.

Owner Bruce Rencken has called government’s decision to re-implement the ban a tough and unexpected one.

“While I understand the rational, the implications on business, employees and customers are far-reaching,” he said.

Worsening the issue, he said, was the uncertainty with respect to timelines and the duration of the ban.

iLembe Chamber of Commerce CEO, Cobus Oelofse said that he was just as surprised by the immediate ban on the sale of liquor as the industry bodies were – but it wasn’t entirely unexpected.

“The liquor trade is an important economic contributor in our district, not only with regards to retail outlets, but also distribution, wholesale and manufacturing, at both industrial and craft levels.

The ban will undoubtedly impact on job losses, job security and earnings, which will be exacerbated by the fact that the UIF TERS scheme was discontinued at the end of June.

“The President’s reinstatement of the ban will unfortunately be felt at the economic and individual level, further disrupting revenue generated nationally by this industry, posing a major concern for the fiscus but these need to be balanced against healthcare capacity and concerns.”

The ban served as an uncomfortable reminder that lockdown remains an ongoing process.

During lockdown, the alcohol industry lost R18-billion in revenue and the government lost R3.4-billion in excise tax.

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