What would you think about your government banning the sale of alcohol and cigarettes during lockdown ?

My government here in South Africa has done this during our 3 week lockdown which started last Thurday.
I think a lot of addicts are going to be quite furious.
The government's reasons are as follows :
- Drinking and smoking weakens your immune system.
- It's also an attempt at reducing domestic violence caused by cabin fever.
- Being drunk reduces people's ability to be socially distant.
- The use of liquor “reduces a person’s ability to exercise the social distancing and personal hygiene required” to limit the spread of the virus from person to person.

I foresee many people breaking the law in order to get their fix. What do you think ?

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MethDozer · M

It's bad idea. It ignores that people will go to extremes for a fix. Not all or even most but enough are addicted enough they will. This just creates a black market for both being solenoid of houses where the human to human contact and cleanliness cannot be regulated. That increase risk of transmission. This encourages people to bust more shorts and for some, they might even scrounge for used ciggies. That encourages transmission. It encourages alcoholics to find their drinking buddies who have the booze. This increases transmission. For a small percentage of alcoholics their addiction is great enough to cause physical impairment that leads to medical resources being diverted. That's a problem .

It makes sense on the surface since they aren't necessities ( despite the fact liquor is a disinfectant in an emergency), but in.practice it is ignoring the behaviours of people under stress who have a vice and aren't able to get it.

Very misguided and ignorant decision.

Wraithorn · 51-55, M

@MethDozer That is some good food for thought there. Thanks for answering.

MethDozer · M

@Wraithorn Besides the fact all his reasons you listed are wonky at best.

Peapod · 61-69, F

@MethDozer Best Answer here and well put. I think this is why the president is suddenly all concerned with the cartels. Isolation and quarantines only make addicts more antsy and they will get their drug by any means they can. Prohibition killed 10's of thousands of people because they tried to make their own bootleg concoction. Some of it was downright poisonous.