Cigarettes more in demand than booze as restrictions ease
Smokers who spoke to the Courier said the ban did not stop them from puffing
Those who queued up at Tops Bottle Store and at other liquor outlets this morning, were more interested in buying cigarettes, rather than liquor.
The easing of the lockdown restrictions to level 2, that came into affect at midnight, saw a small queue outside the bottle store with many saying they wanted to buy cigarettes as many supermarkets had not yet stocked up.
Smokers have not been able to buy cigarettes legally since March 27 when the level 5 lockdown restrictions were imposed.
However, smokers who spoke to the Courier this morning said ‘they had unwillingly settled for and bought ‘cheapie’ cigarettes’ during the lockdown but are now ‘glad to once again puff the real thing’.
Liquor stores can open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday. Licensed on consumption premises can also open today until 10pm as long as strict protocols are implemented.
SAPS expect a surge in liquor related cases as happened when the previous alcohol restrictions were lifted.
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