South Africa’s government lifted its controversial tobacco (and alcohol) sales bans, ending a failed experiment in virus control, and creating a crime surge. This comes as more and more groups collected country-wide against South Africa’s overreach in banning cigarette sales under the guise of coronavirus health protection.
South Africa is the only country to outlaw tobacco sales due to coronavirus despite compelling proof that such bans fuel illicit trade and encourage the sharing of single cigarettes, thereby increasing the risk of infection.
One group after another joined the protest against the ban which most agree was illegal.
Groups staging protests include Restaurant Association of South Africa encourages its members to stage “peaceful protests”. The Democratic Alliance (DA) political party wants the ban on the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to lifted with immediate effect. DA said the country has lost billions of rand in revenue and taxes, which it will never be able to recover.
Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA) legally challenged the “irrational” ban last month, claiming it has diverted revenue away from a multi-million dollar business and into the black market.
Meanwhile, British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA) had its first day in court last week in its case against the government tobacco ban which it calls illegal. BATSA, which supplies 785 of the legal cigarette market in South Africa, decided to sue the state in May after talks with the government fell through.
The ban caused the development of a massive black market in tobacco products along with illegal sales of counterfeit products. Some say that the destructive of many businesses is complete and will not recover.
Even Bhutan, the only country in the world ever to ban tobacco sales 10 years ago, recently some outlets to sell tobacco products as an anti-Covid-19 measure. See related news story.