Level 3: Liquor forum calls on bottle stores to act responsibly

Johannesburg – Many South Africans were in high spirits on Monday when liquor outlets opened for the first time in two months.

But the GautengLiquour Forum has called on bottle stores to act responsibly warning that if outlets don’t keep strict measures, the prohibition could return/

“We don’t want to go back to that situation again,” said the forum’s Phumzile Ratladi.

At this moment, bottle stores are trying to rebuild profits.

Liquor City’s Jean-Claude Duarte said the lockdown has damaged business.

“Obviously with us not trading, it has been quite damaging to the business and to a lot of families within the businesses, so the more customers the merrier for us,” he said.

shoppers waited for hours to finally get their hands on their favourite drinks but worried the large gathering prompted by the sale of alcohol may mean a return of harsher restrictions.

“Because do you see how many we are here? It’s not only here, the whole of South Africa. Drinking in the yard, but as time goes by you leave the yard and go outside and travel to other people,” said consumer Matthew Mphuthi.

“That’s where the problem starts. Then we’re going to go back to five,” he said.