Actions by South Africa’s Government Suggest Another Possible Tobacco Sales Ban

Source from:  Vapingpost 01/11/2021

The bans on tobacco products and alcohol sales were set in place last March, and sadly, included safer alternatives such as e-cigarettes and snus. Naturally, this had angered many public health experts and vaping advocates. Vapour Products Association of South Africa (VPASA) chief executive Asanda Gcoyi, reiterated that regulating cigarettes and safer alternatives in the same manner sends the wrong message.

In response to the ban, Big Tobacco companies Japan Tobacco International (JPI) and British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA), together with The South Africa Tobacco Transformation Alliance (SATTA) had sued the South African government on grounds that the action was unconstitutional as it infringed citizens’ rights.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma responded to the lawsuit by filing papers with the Supreme Court of Appeal on a non-urgent basis. Give that the action follows the implementation of stricter Covid-related restrictions, many are taking this as a sign that the sales ban that had lasted for almost five months in 2020, may be reimposed.

The bans disadvantages outweighed its advantages

Despite the controversy and criticism that the tobacco and alcohol ban had attracted, Dlamini-Zuma argues that it had eased the burden on hospitals and reduced the prospect of contagion. However public health experts had pointed out that it just fuelled the black market.

“Our findings suggest that the ban on cigarette sales is failing in what it was supposed to do,” reported the researchers. “While the original intention of the ban was to support public health, the current disadvantages of the ban may well outweigh the advantages. Smokers are buying cigarettes in large quantities, despite the lockdown, and unusual brands are becoming prevalent,” said researchers from the University of Cape Town, who looked into how people were being affected by the tobacco ban.