Weekend alcohol sales back as level 1 rules relaxed
President Cyril Ramaphosa says this move was aimed at ensuring the country’s economic recovery.
Normal trading hours for the sale of alcohol at retail outlets would resume, following an announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa last night.
This will allow normal alcohol sales for off-site consumption during weekends.
Previously alcohol sales were only allowed from Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 17:00.
The new hours were effect by midnight.
The midnight to 04:00 curfew, however, remains in place when it comes to onsite consumption of alcohol at restaurants, bars, taverns, etc.
Bottle stores welcomed the relaxation of trading hours for the sale of alcohol at retail outlets.
“I am happy that the stores would soon be allowed to trade for normal hours,” said Pretoria Moot Johnny Liquor bottle store manager Tharien Botha.
“The change will see our revenue boosted after taking a hard knock during lockdown and the strict trading hours. Being allowed to trade on Saturday, we will see more people coming to buy alcohol and hopefully our businesses can now start the journey of economic recovery. We are really happy over the announcement.”
Pretoria Overland liquor store manager Brian Hammond said although the sector was set for normal trading hours for small businesses the change was not a “quick fix’’.
“While we welcome the announcement by the President, for us as small businesses, it is not entirely good news as its no quick fix from the lockdown ripple effect on our finances,” he said.
“Maybe for big businesses it is good news because they have capital to buy stock but for me it’s a different case. Due to the lockdown it hit hard on my pocket and I do not have enough capital to buy stock that would enable a stable economic recovery.
“People will come looking for stock they want which some I will not have, so for small businesses we still have a long way to go to recover, ” he said.
In a televised address to the nation on Wednesday night, Ramaphosa said as the country sees a downward trend in Covid-19 new infections the government was amending level 1 regulations.
“As we transition to a new phase in our response, the only way forward is a rapid and sustained economic recovery.
“We are therefore working to enable all parts of the economy to return to full operation as quickly and as safely as possible,” he said.
“Now, as our economy has been steadily opening up and restrictions have been eased, we can turn our attention from these emergency measures towards an ambitious economic reconstruction plan.’’
“We are also opening up international travel to all countries subject to the necessary health protocols,’’ he concluded.
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