Dear Editor, South Africa (SA) imposed a 21-day lockdown from 26 March to 16 April 2020, through the disaster management Act (57/2002) and amended regulations [Section 27(2)] 1, to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country.During the lockdown only essential goods have been allowed on sale 2.Tobacco and nicotine products were designated as non-essential goods and their sales prohibited. During the lockdown, essential services retailers and petrol station stores have been banned from selling alcohol and cigarettes. Cigarettes have had graphic pictures since 2005, and advertising is banned. South Africa’s national lockdown to help to curb the spread of Covid-19 includes a ban on the sale of certain non-essential goods for the first time in the country’s democratic history. Just in: Sale of cigarettes still banned during Level 4 lockdown Having said that the sale of cigarettes would be permitted in Level 4, government have decided to maintain the ban. The government’s decision to ban the sale of cigarettes during the country’s Covid-19 lockdown has been declared unconstitutional. The ban on the sale of tobacco, tobacco products, e-cigarettes and related products is one of the most controversial lockdown restrictions in South Africa. India and Botswana have also banned the sale of tobacco products, and several other countries are considering following suit, according to the non-profit National Council Against Smoking (NCAS). #DStv403 JOHANNESBURG - Government has been working hard to enforce strict measures during the lockdown. Each has about 20 packets. About 90% of people who wanted to buy cigarettes during the lockdown were able to do so, albeit at inflated prices, an online survey of 16,000 people conducted by … The ban on the sale of alcohol and cigarette will remain in place throughout the lockdown period.The purpose is to save lives and protect the health and well-being of our people. “The tobacco sales ban during the lockdown has thrown the cigarette market into disarray. According to Van Walbeek, “The tobacco sales ban during the lockdown has thrown the cigarette market into disarray. Despite differences in lockdown regulations, many of our results are consistent across countries. South Africa. While restrictions have been placed on alcohol sales in many countries due to the closure of pubs, restaurants, bars and shops, we've rounded up the countries and regions that have … During the lockdown ban, family members and neighbors in apartment complexes who share the same space with tobacco users will also be protected from exposure to SHS since people are not expected to go outside their building to smoke during the lockdown. Tobacco association fired-up over cigarette ban Wednesday 22 April 2020 - 2:37pm A tobacco association is planning to go to court to challenge the ban on cigarette sales during the lockdown. South Africa, the epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak in Africa, has enforced strict lockdown measures. Enforcement and compliance have been strong. It says the government made the right decision to ban tobacco in the first months of the lockdown but could have done more to support people who wanted to quit smoking. Therefore, we might have also captured attempts that were made for other reasons, such as restricted product access or increased difficulties in product consumption during lockdown. On 10 January 2008, Thailand announced further restrictions that came into force on 10 February 2008, in that smoking would be banned (indoors and outdoors) in establishments open to the public, including restaurants, bars, … The market has completely changed. How people responded to the ban: This came out at the virtual 51st Union Conference on Lung Health. Whereas previously multinationals dominated the market, their share of sales has decreased to less than 20% among the people who were sampled. Since the start of June, the country has moved to a level 3 lockdown, which has opened up the economy and allowed millions of South Africans to return to work. Why you can’t have cigarettes and alcohol during lockdown Published by capeetc on March 26, 2020 Those who indulge in alcohol and tobacco products have been in uproar since ministers in an inter-ministrial briefing announced that the sale of alcohol and tobacco will be deemed “non-essential” during the 21-day lockdown period. Most smokers that have quit smoking during lockdown did not quit because of health concerns or because they wanted to follow the government’s regulations, but because the illegal market that was created by the lockdown made cigarettes unaffordable. So much for the travel ban,” said Louw. We have learned lessons from other countries and we have an advantage,” the minister said. He said other provincial governments and national government should lift the ban because cigarettes had not been banned in other countries under lockdown due to the coronavirus. Most other countries have not banned the sale of either alcohol or cigarettes. The country has been on lockdown since March 26, in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19, like many other places. I saw people on Facebook openly asking where they can buy cigarettes during lockdown. Whereas previously multinationals dominated the market, their share of sales has decreased to less than 20% among the people who were sampled. This comes less than a week after president Cyril Ramaphosa announced that cigarettes would be back on shelves across the country when the Covid-19 lockdown level is eased to level 4 on May 1 2020. The ban has been reported as a “spectacular failure”, with more than 90% of 12,000 smokers who responded to an online questionnaire stating they had purchased cigarettes during the lockdown. Critics of a strategy to increase the excise tax substantially would argue that to do so would increase illicit trade. “I have two cartons of cigarettes that I had bought at duty-free before the lockdown. This, then, gives the Western Cape provincial government something to argue with. The country has banned the sale and export of alcohol until 16 April. WHO on easing lockdowns Pulling back from a lockdown is “not a simple matter”, Dr Moeti said. Some have been calling for government to lift the ban of alcohol and cigarettes. Enforcement and compliance have been strong. This after Batsa and other industry players took Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to court earlier this year to challenge the decision to prohibit the sale of tobacco products during the hard lockdown. The market has completely changed. South Africa is only one of three countries in the world to have banned cigarettes during the pandemic (along with Botswana and India). 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