MASERU – The Maluti Mountain Brewery (MMB) in collaboration with Independent Basotho Off-sales Association (IBOSA) and the Lesotho Liqour and Restaurants Owners Association (LLROA) has appealed to all local liquor businesses to comply with the recently published Covid-19 regulations, which prohibit the sale of alcohol.

In a joint statement, the trio indicated that despite the standing Government Gazette issued on July 20, there are bars and off-sales that are still open and operating contrary to the regulations.
“We would like to appeal to every liquor business that is still open to comply with the law and close operations as per government's call.

“As an industry, we encourage all our members and traders to adhere to the new rules and regulations,” they said.
They encouraged the said businesses to support the government's intention to flatten the curve of Covid-19 pandemic.
MMB, IBOSA and LLROA have in the statement remarked that the industry has a wide and deep value chain adding that it contributes an estimated 3 percent to the GDP as well as employs over 25 000 Basotho, thus shutting it down will take away revenue needed by the government and the nation.
They indicated that the liquor industry is therefore in the process of engaging with the government and the National Covid-19 Secretariat (NACOSEC) to find solutions that will support the current government strategy as well as minimising the economic impact on the industry.
They expressed their intention to be part of the solution to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, while rekindling the economy.
The liquor industry was among non-essential service providers which were shut down in April when the first lockdown was imposed in order to minimise the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic