[imagesource: Thobile Mathonsi / African News Agency]

South Africa was very, very thirsty following what was a lengthy ban on the sale of alcohol.

That ban was lifted on June 1, as the country dropped to alert level 3, and liquor stores across the country saw queues of people gathered outside that Monday morning.

Those same scenes were repeated as voicenotes and panicked messages did the rounds less than two weeks later, talking of the booze sales ban being reinstated, but that never materialised.

As things stand, the government has repeatedly stated that the decision “is not up for reviewal”.

Whilst a spike in sales was obviously expected, the extent of that surge has caught many suppliers and stores by surprise, reports City Press.

One popular dop, in particular, is a trip down memory lane:

One of the big favourites, especially during the winter months, is Sedgwicks Old Brown Sherry. Bottle stores nationwide are experiencing a shortage of the brand, which has been in circulation for more than 100 years.

Distell, the manufacturer of Old Brown Sherry, is experiencing intermittent shortages, largely as a result of the unprecedented demand for alcohol.

“We had a healthy amount of stock, but the demand completely exceeded our forecasts,” said Dennis Matsane, spokesperson for Distell.

Nothing says winter quite like reaching over to the bedside table and taking a swig of Sedgwicks Old Brown Sherry.

You don’t keep yours next to the bed, and you definitely don’t have a swig before work in the morning? No, me neither.

As we should all know by now, alcohol sales are limited to between 9AM and 5PM, on Mondays through to Thursdays, but that hasn’t stopped people from trying their luck.

Micael Egling, owner of the Kwikspar and Tops in Hillcrest, Durban, said people hammer on the door and windows when the bottle store is closed while he and his team do stocktake.

He said that, judging by the massive increase in sales in the first two weeks of the month, it appeared that his clientele were still worried government would reinstate the alcohol ban.

“We are seeing double the sales volume compared with before the lockdown. It looks as though people are trying to build up provisions for future ‘emergencies’.”

As a nation, I think we’re collectively suffering through a bout of ‘once bitten, twice shy’, and the distrust caused by the about-turns on the sale of tobacco products still lingers.

Egling added that wine sales at his outlet have surged, whilst Hennie Horn, owner of Bosveld Braai Liquors in Villieria, Pretoria, said that sales for the first half of June were similar to that of the whole of January, which is always a big month as people restock following the festive season’s excesses.

Go on, have a guess at Bosveld’s bestsellers.

Yes, brandy and beer.

A reminder that if you can’t be bothered to head to the liquor store, there are companies offering same-day delivery.

[source:citypress]