Alcohol on, tobacco off: Tito wins one fight for the economy

The national command council has agreed on the new regulations for the looming level 3 lockdown stage this coming week.

President Cyril Ramaphosa undertook a fresh round of consultations with stakeholders to test the mood, including on the continued ban of tobacco sales and the return of alcoholic beverages.

City Press has learnt that economic reasons won the day for the return of alcohol sales, which would cushion the knock on the country’s tax revenue collection and boost the agricultural sector as part of the value chain.