Government has no plans to reinstate the ban on booze.
This after several voice notes surfaced in community WhatsApp groups on Monday, claiming that the sale of alcohol will be banned again from today.
In one 24-second voice note, a man says: “Morning boys, just a quick heads up. Just got a rumour that they are cancelling the sale of booze effective from Wednesday this week. If you want booze, you guys better move your a***s and go buy. I got it on first hand authority that they are going to stop the selling of booze until the end of July. So boys, make it happen. You better get some stock.”
However, the Presidency denied the claim, reports IOL.
According to presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko, no such calls have been tabled before the National Coronavirus Command Council at this point.
The ban on the sale of alcohol was lifted on 1 June.
This was done as part of the country’s easing to Level 3 of lockdown.
However, alcohol can only be purchased between Monday and Thursday, between 9am and 5pm, and not on any public holidays either.
Since the lifting of the ban, hospitals around the country have recorded a spike in alcohol trauma.
Western Cape Health Department spokesperson Mark van der Heever said previously during a 12-hour period, medical teams attended to 28 patients.
But on Monday, 1 June, they treated 50 patients, of which the majority were alcohol-related trauma.
Government has vowed to crack down on liquor shops that flout lockdown regulations.