Dear Reader.

Update: 10 April 2020.

Last night we where informed that the lockdown is extended by another 2 weeks. This will be a total lockdown for April.

 On social media we have all ready seen how shops are being looted. Thus the below forecast has started to become reality.
 

Please don't make make us criminals.

We were given given very short notice regarding the ban on sales of Tobacco products in South Africa, during the COVID19 Lock down period.

This is creating a very negative effect, not only on the users of Tobacco products/ cigarettes.

But also on their families and obviously on the income of many retailers, causing a snow ball effect.

Below are some facts.

Nicotine is an addictive drug and withdrawal  nicotine has serious effects on a lot of people and is especially elevated because of the stress and fear happening in our country.

It causes, amongst others, depression and anxiety and because we are in lockdown. We have all read of the increase of domestic violence as most people battle with the withdrawal process.

British American Tobacco (BATSA) has said the temporary ban will unintentionally force 11 million smokers to go outside of their neighbourhood in search of outlets willing to defy the regulations. 

Increasing the likelihood of spreading the COVID19 virus.

In 2019, BATSA contributed R13 billion in total taxes of which R10 billion was tobacco excise.

Please help us uplift the ban, saving jobs, bring more money into the state coffers, stimulate the economy and decrease the psychological impact on us South Africans of the lockdown period.