Queues form at a Makro store in Gauteng – Photo: Heidi Giokos / Twitter
Queues form at a Makro store in Gauteng – Photo: Heidi Giokos / Twitter
It’s a day that South Africans have waited more than six weeks for: Alcohol is back on the shelves for Level 2 of lockdown, and as we’ve already seen on Tuesday morning, some people are keen to make up for lost time:
Bakkies are already queuing outside Makro Polokwane #TheReturnOfAlcohol pic.twitter.com/845XkNaOsp
— ngoako (@ngoako59210771) August 18, 2020
Level 2 – alcohol ban lifted, as citizens look to get their fix
Queues have been reported outside of liquor stores in Polokwane, Randfontein, Johannesburg, and the Eastern Cape this morning. It’s alleged one group camped out at a store on Oxford Street since 4:00. However, the general pattern of play has seen eager shoppers turn up at the outlets from 8:00 onwards.
Liquor stores are allowed to open from 9:00 – 17:00, throughout Monday to Thursday. With three days left to trade this week, the businesses will be hoping for a decent turnover in the new era of Level 2. However, it would seem that the stores with large queues forming are actually in the minority.
Liquor store queues on Tuesday 18 August
When alcohol prohibition was first lifted in June, it drew crowds from all over on the first day of booze sales. Bands showed up outside of retailers, as socially distanced crowds sang and danced in anticipation of getting their hands on the good stuff. Judging by the Tweets of citizens, bypassers and local journalists, It’s fair to say that things have been a little more muted this time around:
Queues have already started at some outlets as stores will now be allowed to sell alcohol. We also see trucks and vans from taverns stocking you so they can also sell. pic.twitter.com/i4QiTMDhEs
— Heidi Giokos (@HeidiGiokos) August 18, 2020
A queue has already started forming outside Ultra Liquors in Newton Park as liquor sales resume later today.
— HeraldLIVE (@HeraldPE) August 18, 2020
? @ecoetzee pic.twitter.com/cEWmFP1p6x
So these already a long queue outside Captain Liquor in Randfontein…
— Tsholofelo Saulus (@TsholoSaulus) August 18, 2020
Okay, so there are people sitting in their vehicles waiting outside Makro Liquor. #AlcoholBan #AlcoholSales #Level2
— Athi Mtongana (@Artii_M) August 18, 2020
Que at makro polokwane
— Elliot Dineo (@ElliotDineo) August 18, 2020
