Under Level 3 of lockdown, alcohol can now be sold, under certain conditions and at certain times.
However, cigarette and tobacco products sales are still banned.
I am not a smoker, but this makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever.
All the tobacco ban has done is push up cigarette prices to crazy highs, causing the exploitation of the poor to continue.
On the Cape Flats, some brands of cigarettes are being sold for R20 each.
Packets go for R250 and cartons for anything up to R3000.
I am around enough smokers to know that you can’t simply stop smoking, but I have enough common sense to know that you cannot be paying these crazy prices for cigarettes and yet stand in line for a food parcel.
People are joking that the first thing many will be buying from their child support grants will be liquor.
NEEDS: Dop is not essential, kos is
I cannot stand in judgement of anyone, but I sincerely hope that this won’t be the case.
Times are tough mense!
We have to be responsible with our money and acknowledge what our priorities are.
Booze and overpriced entjies can never be a priority when there is no money for bread and electricity.
If you can afford your little luxuries in life, by all means, go for it.
I would too. But, not at the expense of necessities, and especially in these uncertain times.
It does not matter how much, or how little income we are getting, as adults, it is our duty to work responsibly with our money.