GARDEN ROUTE | HESSEQUA | KAROO NEWS - Hundreds of thousands of people lined up at liquor stores countrywide when they reopened their doors on Monday 1 June, as Level 3 of lockdown took effect. Alcohol may now be sold from Mondays to Thursdays between 09:00 and 17:00.
Despite the long queues, the opening of the liquor trade after nine weeks of zero trading went off without major hitches.
Members of the alcohol industry were unanimous in their praise for the way retailers, restaurants, taverns, and consumers rose to the challenge. South African Liquor Brandowners' Association (Salba) CEO Kurt Moore said South Africans showed what can be done when everyone works together.
"We were confident of the professionalism and efficiency of our retailers, and that comprehensive safety protocols would be in place to protect staff and consumers. What stood out, however, is how everyone, from the tavern owners to the supermarket retailers, and from the restaurants to the consumers, worked and acted responsibly to make this a success."
Some people vented their anger on Facebook after seeing the long lines sayng that many poor people are now spending their grant money on alcohol and not on food. But on the whole, most people welcomed the restoration of their right to buy their favourite tipple.
We spoke to some of the happy buyers in the Garden Route District to hear what they put in their shopping trolleys.
Hendrik Klaassen from Graaff-Reinet looked forward to enjoying a beer again.
This photo of some clever, humorous marketing by a Tops outlet somewhere in South Africa, went viral on social media this week.
Stephen Louw from Graaff-Reinet was eager to buy something to wet his throat. "You cannot work effectively if you don't have something to drink in the evening and weekends," he said.
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