EFF STATEMENT ON THE RESUMPTION OF ALCOHOL SALES
Monday, 01 June 2020
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) urges all South Africans to be mindful of the dangers that are inherent with alcohol consumption and the collapse that alcohol will cause to our already dilapidated healthcare system and subsequently weaken the war against the spread of COVID-19. South Africa has an ailing healthcare system that has not only been failing to give adequate healthcare to our people but has been unable to operate for more than 12-hours a day during the time before the pandemic came to our nation.
The EFF reiterates its position on the ban of the sale of alcohol has and maintains that the resumption of the sale of alcohol amid a pandemic, the rising infection rate and the increasing death toll, is profit-driven and does not consider the sanctity of human life.
The impact of alcohol abuse reaches far beyond economic costs; instead, the negative economic consequences of alcohol consumption affect the material welfare of society as a whole. To sell alcohol which is a proven factor in social disobedience and disorder would put a strain on law enforcement agencies, health care infrastructure and negatively impact the health of consumers as alcohol diminishes the strength of one's immune system.
We have had numerous reports that confirm, with empirical evidence, the fact that the alcohol ban has had the most significant benefit for social stability and the distribution of the scarce medical resources. Only a month into the Level-5 National Lockdown and Groote Schuur Hospital had reported an unprecedented decrease of trauma cases. The Hospital had recorded a 66% decrease in trauma cases on the weekend to the weekend basis which the trauma unit head, Professor Andrew Nicol, has attributed to the ban of alcohol.