South Africa is currently in an extended adjusted level four lockdown, which will stay in place until 25 July. Among the restrictions is the ban on the transportation and the sale of alcohol. This is the fourth alcohol ban imposed by the government since South Africa’s first hard lockdown in March 2020. The restriction puts further pressure on the liquor industry, which has lost millions in the last year and has left countless people without an income.
Cape Brewing Company (CBC) is a Western Cape-based brewery that has partnered with national retailer Checkers to provide unemployed bar and hospitality staff with vouchers that may be used for groceries, electricity, municipal bills or airtime.
“At CBC, we fully understand the current additional strain that has been further placed on the hospitality industry, venues and the people who work and earn a living from it,” says Kowie Lotter, National General Sales Manager. “That’s why CBC has devised an initiative that would pay it forward to the industry.”
How it works:
CBC will donate 20% of each purchase through its online store towards the CBC Livelihoods Initiative. The funds will be paid to Checkers directly, who will generate vouchers and send to hospitality staff that have registered with CBC. The brewery has started the initiative with an injection of R50,000. To date, this initiative has assisted 1000 hospitality industry employees.
“It’s hard to describe just how difficult the Lockdowns have been for us in the service industry,” says Murray Carlyle, co-owner of Carlyle’s on Derry in Cape Town. “This is a really great initiative that will help, not just financially but psychologically too. It’s good to know that there is support out there. Every little bit helps a lot.”
“It is the Cape Brewing Company’s sincere hope that this small effort from our proudly independent brewery will make a few people’s lives easier at a time when they need it the most,” says CBC COO Andy Kung.
ALSO READ: Checkers launched a range of wines is an initiative to help South Africa’s wine industry