It’s time to reassess what we think we know about the ban on alcohol sales in South Africa and have a sober look at the facts, writes Carmen van Niekerk. busrep lockdown
The ban in South Africa is on the sale of alcohol, and has not placed a prohibition on the consumption of alcohol. So if you had it, could find it or even make it yourself, you could drink it. The consumption of alcohol has therefore not stopped during the last 50+ days of lockdown – the millions of photos on social media of people having a drink is evidence enough that this has been the reality over the last seven weeks.
Despite claims that reductions in crime are related to alcohol prohibition in South Africa, it is apparent that these positive trends are also taking place in countries where the sale of alcohol has not been prohibited, and even in some countries where alcohol sales have been actively supported. Latin America is the region with the highest homicide rates in the world outside of war. The New York Times reported on 11 April that this region has seen a significant reduction in criminality and violence during lockdown. In El Salvador, murders reduced by almost half in February and March, while in Argentina, robberies fell by nearly 90 percent.
As is with the case of crime, fingering the ban of alcohol as the sole reason for a reduction of trauma cases by two thirds in South Africa is irrational.
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