The National Liquor Traders Council has warned its members not to drop their guard against COVID-19 and continue to enforce mask wearing, social distancing and proper hygiene, as the number of infections shows a worrying upward trend.
The NLTC has been working closely with the liquor industry to drive maximum compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols among taverners and their patrons. This includes hiring Community Policing Forum members to enhance safety in and around taverns and conduct inspections to check on compliance to COVID-19 protocols and liquor licence conditions.
Tavern owners and shebeen permit holders have been educated on the importance of adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols and outlets that fail to remedy non-compliance are reported to the liquor authorities for further action to be taken.
Through the industry body AWARE.org, a total of 40 000 PPE packs have been distributed to taverns, along with sanitiser and educational material to raise awareness of the risks of COVID-19 and the need for maximum vigilance, especially as the threat of a 3rd wave rises.
AWARE.org has also distributed food parcels to 20 000 taverns during lockdown, in addition to donations of PPE to 25 hospitals, representing a total investment of R145 million in the industry’s COVID-19 response.This is apart from additional initiatives by the manufacturers themselves.
“The industry has really pulled together to improve behaviour so we can continue to trade safely and protect our livelihoods, while ensuring we support government’s efforts to minimise the COVID-19 risks and the impact of the looming third wave,” said National Liquor Traders Council convenor Lucky Ntimane.
“Taverners and shebeen permit holders have taken a beating from the three bans on alcohol and we’re doing everything in our power to help prevent a third wave of COVID-19,” said Ntimane. “Another ban would put many taverners out of business for good. History will be their only point of reference for what was once the pride of black-owned township business,” he added.
“Many people are tired of the COVID-19 restrictions and want to go back to ‘normal’ life, but we can’t let our guard down now. This is a lot like the period just before the second wave, when complacency set in, with fatal consequences,” said Ntimane.
“It would be a tragedy if we allowed a third wave to take hold as a result of complacency, just as an accelerated vaccination programme seems within reach. We call on the government to provide vaccines for all as quickly as possible to save lives and allow the economy to remain open.”
Ntimane said in addition to an accelerated vaccine rollout, restrictions on large gatherings were acknowledged to be the most effective way of limiting the spread of the virus.
“The government has a record of imposing bans on alcohol as a first resort, without providing the evidence to show why this is the most effective measure available. We urge decision makers to be open with the public about the reasons and evidence for the measures they take, so we can all have confidence that they are the best available options,” Ntimane said.
“We are working with the authorities, including the SAPS and liquor boards, to keep our house in order and we hope the government will continue to work with us in good faith”.As an example, Ntimane said a programme by Distell to improve COVID-19 and liquor licence compliance among taverners had achieved a compliance score of 89%, following audits of more than 18 000 outlets since October last year. This was a vast improvement on the score of 75% registered at the start of the programme.
Meanwhile, beer maker HEINEKEN supported the hiring of patrollers at 100 police stations around the country. Since April, HEINEKEN has run a partnership with the National Tourism and Hospitality Association and the SAPS at local level to create continuous COVID-19 regulation awareness for traders and their patrons.
Diageo has assisted on-trade liquor outlets in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban in the formal and informal markets to rebuild their businesses after the financial losses caused by the COVID-19 lockdown. This has been done through stock injections and marketing support, as well as a movement to ensure the promotion of responsible drinking, with a total investment of R200 million in the #WeChoose campaign.
“If there is one lesson we’ve learnt from COVID-19, it is that we depend on each other to survive. If we build on these partnerships between industry, township entrepreneurs and government, we can defeat COVID-19 and emerge stronger as we rebuild our economy,” Ntimane said.
