Industry warns against another alcohol ban and more restrictions in South Africa

The South African wine industry (Vinpro) has warned against further alcohol restrictions, which it says have given rise to a major illicit market and caused significant damage to legitimate businesses. Because this illicit market is outside the government’s regulatory reach and operates uncontrolled, it leads to devastating consequences from a health and economic perspective, the group said. “The liquor industry is already heavily regulated. We urge the government to stop these crisis-driven Covid-19 related prohibitions on wine which have promoted the development of parallel illicit markets, plunging our industry into a financial abyss and reducing much-needed government revenue,” Vinpro said. “We want the government to combat illicit alcohol trade and create fair and open competition in the domestic market by enforcing the laws that already exist.” Vinpro said that the wine industry had suffered irreparable damage through the Covid-19 pandemic – from a large number of small and ...