Restaurants To Take On Government In Court Over Alcohol Sales Ban
Restaurants To Take On Government In Court Over Alcohol Sales Ban! The Restaurant Association of South Africa (RASA) has announced its intentions of taking the government to court over its decision to ban the sale of alcohol.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in December that under the level 3 lockdown restrictions the sale of and transportation of alcohol are banned. The decision to ban alcohol follows from the increasing number of alcohol-trauma-related cases that hospitals were facing last year amid the influx of Covid-19 patients.
RASA CEO, Wendy Alberts says the industry is keen to negotiate a solution that is viable with the government in order to save lives and livelihoods.
She said, “We will see the government in the high court, hopefully in the next week or so. We have applied for an urgent application and we are being supported by a number of major stakeholders in the industry. The reality is if you go around to any restaurant you will see it as a ghost town.”
“We have put many proposals on the table and said we need to government to look at those proposals, open lines of communication. Allow us to present what we feel is a viable solution in slowing down the curve and taking responsibility. Also in supporting the restaurants in staying open and saving those jobs, lives and livelihoods.” She added.
However, healthcare workers in Gauteng welcomed the decision to ban the sale of alcohol, saying there is already less pressure on staff and resources.
