Johannesburg, 11 May 2020: The South African Breweries (SAB) can confirm that as of 11 May 2020 it has agreed a way forward with the government to safely transport its packaged inventory (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) from its manufacturing plants to its depots. Warehouses at SAB's seven breweries are now at full capacity and unable to absorb any further inventory which impacts any current beer in the production process being bottled and stored, culminating in the destruction and disposal of the inventory.
To overcome the problem, SAB has collaborated with government and reached an agreement which will enable the company to transport its beer inventory over the course of the next few weeks and to avoid losses in excise tax for the Government to the value of R500m.
SAB would like to extend its gratitude to the Government, this move during these difficult times is a clear indication that we can and should collaborate on solutions that will help protect the livelihoods of the over 250,000 South Africans across SAB's broad value chain.
The distribution and sale of alcohol will remain restricted as per Level 4 lockdown regulations.
