Botswana Bans Sale of Alcohol, Halts Liquor Licences as Part of Measures to Curb COVID-19 Spread

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Obiajulu Joel Nwolu

Obiajulu Joel Nwolu is an established writer at africannewstoday.com. He is passionate about African affairs. He loves writing about interesting facts relating to the African continent and enjoys sharing his knowledge with others.

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Botswana has banned the sale and consumption of alcohol in public places and withdrawn liquor licenses in the country as part of effort to curb the spread of the fatal COVID-19.

This was disclosed by President Mokgweetsi Masisi through a gazette notice released on Wednesday by the government.

“NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that His Excellency the President, acting in accordance with regulation 30G of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020, has with immediate effect suspended all liquor licences issued in terms of the Liquor Act,” the notice read in part.

The statement also clarified that “liquor” also included traditional beers, which are brewed by a majority of rural households in Botswana.

“The suspension of the sale of alcohol is based on evidence that consumption of alcohol increases the risks posed by COVID-19 due to its negative effects on adherence to COVID-19 protocols.”

The government equally ordered the indefinite closure of all liquor shops in the country.

Earlier in the year, Botswana had announced a nationwide ban on sale of alcohol and shut down all pubs as part of its lockdown measure.

President Masisi in June threatened to re-introduce restrictions if citizens failed to behave responsibly after the measures were relaxed. The government had decided to ease the sale and consumption of alcohol in a controlled manner as part of efforts to reopen the economy.

So far, Botswana has recorded 804 confirmed coronavirus cases, two deaths and 63 recoveries as of August 5, according to the Africa CDC.

Source: CGTN