Pick n Pay CEO Wants Alcohol Sales Ban Lifted

PICK n Pay group chief executive Pieter Boone has called for president Cyril Ramaphosa to lift the country’s restrictions on the sale of alcohol.

Boone said that the easing of restrictions will be especially beneficial to those businesses that have been severely impacted by recent looting and unrest in parts of the country.

“Speaking to franchisees and independent traders in the affected areas, I firmly believe that it is time now for the president to announce a lifting of the ban on liquor sales.

“We have hopefully passed the peak of the Covid-19 third wave.  In normal times, many independent shopkeepers depend on responsible liquor sales to sustain their businesses, and will not survive another prolonged ban. ”

Boone said that the social unrest, looting, and resulting damage has dealt these businesses a further body blow – while also releasing a large amount of looted liquor into the illicit market.