Government says it does not plan to reintroduce a countrywide ban on the sale of alcohol at this point in time.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo such calls have been tabled before the National Coronavirus Command Council at this point,\u201d presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko told TimesLive<\/a> <\/strong>on Monday (8 June).<\/p>\n This was reiterated by Cooperative Governance spokesperson Mlungisi Mtsal who said that he was not aware of any plans to reintroduce the ban on alcohol.<\/p>\n “There is no decision on alcohol and there is no conversation around alcohol that I am aware of yet,” he told Jacaranda<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n The comments from government come after messages circulating on social media indicating that the National Coronavirus Command Council was considering a reintroduction of the ban on the sale of alcohol.<\/p>\n Provincial governments have noted that the sale of alcohol has led to a direct increase in trauma cases across the country’s provinces.<\/p>\n Western Cape premier Alan Winde said that the increase<\/a> <\/strong>in alcohol-related admissions is particularly damaging as the province prepares for an influx in coronavirus cases.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have spent all this time and energy to makes sure that our health response is ready, we fought really hard to make sure that we get to level 3 in this province and now I\u2019m being let down.<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot allow this to happen, we have got to make sure that responsibility is taken up. This is a partnership between government and the citizens,” he said.<\/p>\n