A group of tavern owners believe the Covid-19 compliance training will help them deal with customers at their business premises during the pandemic.
Dozens of liquor traders on Tuesday gathered at the Slotjhile Pub and Restaurant in Thembisa, Gauteng, for a training session on how to ensure maximum Covid-19 safety, which includes learning about maintaining the correct social distancing and client numbers for their outlets, hygiene and sanitation protocols, and mask wearing.
Phuti Moabelo, who has been running Mapogo’s Place, a shebeen in Ivory Park, for 15 years, said he was happy and relieved that the training equipped him with information he did not know.
“There are a lot of things I didn’t know. I learned a lot today. I learned how to do markings that ensure there is social distancing in my place, adequate sanitising of patrons and how masks should be properly worn,” said Moabelo.
He also said it was pointless to make money when people were dying.
“This training can help a lot of people out there. We should learn to follow the rules and close our establishments at 9pm as stipulated by the regulations. A lot of people are not following the rules and their places remain open after 10pm, which is wrong. We cannot make money at the expense of people’s lives. Money will always be there but lives are more important,” he said.
Million Khosa, who runs Million’s Place, a shebeen in Klipfontein View, Midrand, echoed his sentiments.
“These guidelines that we received today (yesterday) are helpful and will help us deal with stubborn customers. Some customers don’t wear masks and [don't] maintain social distancing in our places. So these rules will help us implement changes. We can’t work like before. We will encourage our customers to buy their alcohol and go and drink at home. We will use pamphlets to inform them that when we have reached our indoor capacity and there is no longer any sitting space they should buy and go home. We need to prioritise lives. We don’t want to lose our customers,” said Khosa.
0 of 2
For Mabel Sithole, who runs Mizo’s Place, a tavern in Kaalfontein, Midrand, the training also taught her how to protect herself from patrons. “We were taught the importance of making sure a person enters our premises wearing a mask and as owners how to limit too many groups and gatherings of people in our places,” she said.
The training was sponsored by Distell in partnership with the SA Liquor Traders Association (Salta). The first training kicked off in the Western Cape last week and will continue in major metros in the coming weeks as part of a continuing effort to ensure maximum Covid-19 compliance from outlets.
Salta president Phillemon Mojela said this training would assist tavern owners to comply with Covid-19 regulations.
Distell head of the responsible alcohol programme, Clarence Sibiya, said she was delighted with the support they received from tavern owners for the training.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.