Alcohol body applauds alcohol ban

In a press statement, SAAPA-Botswana chairperson, Prisca Mokgadi said the ban on alcohol was necessary as the government tried to limit the transmission of the more contagious Delta variant, given the fast-increasing number of recorded cases in the region as a whole. She said alcohol consumption saw drinkers disregard public health measures such as social distancing and wearing masks.

“When people consume alcohol, car crashes and interpersonal violence incidents increase resulting in increased hospital admissions. Our fragile and limited health recourses are currently most needed to deal with COVID-19 patients. Government action to secure these limited resources to deal with the health pandemic should therefore be welcomed. While SAAPA Botswana acknowledges that the public health measures put in place impact small and medium enterprises with the loss of income, we implore them to put in place public health first before profit as these measures are for the greater good,” Mokgadi pointed out.