How are South African breweries adapting to survive the alcohol ban?

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South African Breweries Pivot Operations Amidst Alcohol Sales Ban

South African microbreweries and restaurants are implementing adaptive strategies to navigate the ongoing ban on alcohol sales, which was reimposed to curb rising coronavirus cases. Businesses are exploring alternative production lines and operational adjustments to maintain some level of activity and revenue during this challenging period.
Shifting Production to Essential Goods

Some brewery owners are repurposing their facilities to produce non-alcoholic goods. Eben Uys, proprietor of Mad Giant Brewery in Johannesburg, has transitioned to manufacturing hand sanitisers. This pivot aims to generate income and keep a portion of the business operational, although Uys notes that the demand for sanitisers is not as substantial as for beer.
Rethinking Packaging and Distribution

Other businesses are focusing on adapting their existing infrastructure for different purposes. Julian Pienaar, based in Benoni, has retrained his employees to operate an assembly line for filling and packing beer cans. This operational shift allows the business to continue producing and preparing its core product, even if sales are currently prohibited.
Industry-Wide Impact and Closures

The alcohol ban has had a significant impact on the South African brewing industry, which is the most affected on the continent with over 1.3 million cases and 36,000 deaths. According to the Craft Beer Association South Africa, 30 per cent of the country's 215 microbreweries have already been forced to close. South African Breweries has also cancelled a planned investment of €136 million for the year, underscoring the severity of the economic downturn. The Democratic Alliance estimates that 165,000 jobs have been lost within the drinks industry due to the restrictions.

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How are South African breweries adapting to survive the alcohol ban?

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