South Africa virus ban on tobacco, alcohol stirs debate

A bootlegging culture has sprung up across South Africa in response to the government's ban on the sale of cigarettes and alcohol.The measure was imposed almost eight weeks ago as part of the country's coronavirus lockdown, and critics have described it as "puritanical".

Authorities are easing the ban a little. From 1 June, it will be legal to sell alcohol for home consumption, on certain days of the week. But pubs and bars remain closed, and the ban on cigarette sales will stay in place. Once a popular Soweto watering hole, the Disoufeng pub has not sold any liquor for nearly two months.

"It's really sad to be feeling the pain," said owner Tobogo Phiri, who reopened the pub's kitchen two weeks ago to sell takeaway food. Some of his wealthier customers have tried to get him to break the regulations by selling them liquor, promising to spend at least 10,000 Rand (574 US dollars).

But Phiri said that although it was hard to refuse the offer, he had to respect the law. Government officials have justified the liquor restrictions, saying it's led to fewer alcohol-related hospital admissions and a reduction in road accidents.

Some township residents have applauded the crackdown on alcohol. Mphumelelo Mdunge from Soweto said there was less crime as a result.

Authorities have also defended the cigarette ban, arguing that tobacco smoke weakens people's respiratory systems - at a time when difficulty in breathing is a key symptom of COVID-19.

But South Africa has a thriving black market in cigarettes, linked to criminal networks, and street vendor Mluleki Mbhele was confident he would still have plenty of supplies to sell.

"The officials know about it because they continue to smoke," he said. The coronavirus has spread relatively slowly across Africa, but South Africa has been hit harder than any other country on the continent.It has reported more than 24,000 confirmed cases, with over 500 deaths.

(Image Credit: AP)