LISTEN: Craft beer industry in dire straits
A survey by the Beer Association of SA has shown that seven out of every eight craft brewers in the country might not survive the alcohol ban.
It's the third one imposed by the government after the Covid-19 pandemic struck, and currently, no one's allowed to buy or sell liquor. The SA Liquor Brand owners Association yesterday asked government to give it reasons for the continuation of the ban, despite the declining number of coronavirus cases.
SA Breweries says 550 temporary contract workers at its brewing facilities are now out of a job.
Megan Gemmell is a Pietermaritzburg-based brewer who owns Clockwork Brewhouse. She says they're barely able to keep their heads above water.
"So we are struggling and we are trying to keep our staff paid and happy and employed and it has become challenging because we are getting no assistance from the government. We can't claim any UIF for our staff so I'm currently dipping into my own saving to pay them."
The Beer Association wrote a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa recently, begging him to lift the booze ban lift.
It's said more businesses are sinking into debt. Gemmel's worried about the future of her brewery, which she established in 2014.
"I do it because I love brewing, I love owning my own business but I love the science and art behind manufacturing beer.
"I understand the alcohol abuse in this country and I understand the point the government is making about the alcohol abuse and why the ban was brought through, but unfortunately, this is my livelihood and what is happening now is the government is destroying our business, it's destroying what we love."
