“Tobacco and alcohol ban must be lifted yesterday” – DA
The official opposition party Democratic Alliance (DA) wants the ban on the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to lifted with immediate effect. In a statement DA said it welcomes and agrees with comments by SA Medical Research Council (SAMRC) President, Dr Glenda Gray and Professor Charles Parry, Director of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs Research Unit …
The official opposition party Democratic Alliance (DA) wants the ban on the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to lifted with immediate effect.
In a statement DA said it welcomes and agrees with comments by SA Medical Research Council (SAMRC) President, Dr Glenda Gray and Professor Charles Parry, Director of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs Research Unit at the SAMRC , that South Africa should be more “nimble” in its approach to the banning of alcohol.
“In a polite way, Dr Gray is saying that there is no longer any use for the ban and that we must “look at livelihoods” as she put it.”
The party’s Dean McPherson said the second ban on alcohol has had terrible consequences for farmers, farm workers and down-stream businesses in the industry.
“People are losing everything because this government is not being led by science.”
McPherson also said the ban on tobacco products has only led to cigarette smugglers becoming obscenely rich which criminalising South Africans for buying cigarettes.
“It has also had a devastating effect on our economy and national revenue which has lost billions of Rands in taxes and duties, which we will never be able to recover.”
“The DA believes that the time for these illogical and unscientific bans to continue must come to an end immediately. President Ramaphosa must put his foot down, show leadership and unban alcohol and tobacco without further delay.”
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