Ban gives tobacco illegal drug status in South Africa

  mess was dropped into a WhatsApp group used by suburban moms in South Africa. Amid grumblings over homeschooling during lockdown, one mom went off topic: “Does anyone kw where to get illegal cigarettes? I just need a few. I'm desperate.”

She emphasized her anguish with an emoji, a face with eyes bulging and tongue hanging out.

“desperate mama,” as she described herself, is one of 9 million smokers in South Africa affected by government's decision in late March to ban sale of all tobacco products, ostensibly to help protect citizens' health during coronavirus pandemic. ban remains even after South Africa eased most of its strict lockdown restrictions, including ar contentious outlawing of alcohol sales.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases are rising rapidly in Africa’s most developed ecomy. But that ecomy is suffering, and w restaurants, cinemas and even casis are set to reopen. And allowing people to purchase alcohol again has led to an increase in drunken brawls and traffic accidents, putting ded strain on hospitals as y deal with virus. Yet it's still illegal to buy a pack of cigarettes.

“It makes sense,” said Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, chairman of Fair Tre Independent Tobacco Association, which represents smaller manufacturers. association challenged ban in court and lost. Ar case, with global industry giant British American Tobacco taking government to court, has begun.

South Africa is only country in world to have a ban on tobacco sales in place after India and Botswana lifted irs.

government says it's putting health of its people first as respiratory disease spres. But while World Health Organization recommends that people stop smoking during pandemic, it says re is scientific evidence to show smokers are more susceptible to COVID-19.

government has been hotly criticized for t publishing science it said it relied on.

That showed a “Just do what we say, we kw best” attitude from government, said Joleen Steyn Kotze, an expert on democracy and governance in South Africa. She warned lack of transparency might foster a general distrust when government needs citizens more than ever to cooperate.

ban, which outlaws selling tobacco but t act of smoking, does have some backing.

“re are good reasons for people to quit, and especially at this time of COVID-19,” said Carine Egbe, a scientist at Alcohol, Tobacco and Or Drugs Research Unit at South African Medical Research Council. She agrees with ban on basis that COVID-19 “majorly affects respiratory system.”

South African smokers have two options, neir pleasant: Go cold turkey at a time of high stress. Or, like desperate mom, go criminal. With prohibition comes bootlegging, often with links to organized crime.

Removed from all mainstream outlets, cigarettes have become most sought after illicit drug in South Africa, more profitable than cocaine and heroin, some analysts say.

Cigarettes hidden in grocery bags are pushed across counter at corner shops. Young men flash packs on sidewalks. A d in ir direction and even one cigarette to temporarily fend off withdrawal symptoms is available.

It comes at a high price. Sometimes $11 for a box of 20 cigarettes that cost $1.70 pre-lockdown. Some brands are smuggled into country, ors are hardly-kwn, bottom shelf local labels, but y'll do. re's even a VIP service if you make phone contact with illicit sellers. For $350 you'll get 200 cigarettes delivered to your home, one promises, so you can avoid risk of running into police. y rmally cost about $20.

Supporters of ban say re has been some success in getting people to quit smoking, or at least cut down. But a survey of more than 12,000 smokers by University of Cape Town found that 90% of m bought cigarettes illegally during lockdown.

Mnguni said it was “nsense” to think smokers would suddenly give up. He fears that smokers w familiar with bootleg sources may stick with m when ban is lifted and illicit cigarettes are cheaper again.

repercussions for ecomy are alrey felt. tobacco industry contributes nearly $100 million a month in excise taxes paid to South African government, never mind jobs and livelihoods.

fate of a legendary tobacco shop, a fixture on Cape Town's historic central square since 1793 and which h survived two centuries of challenges, has reinforced new reality. Unable to tre for months, it packed up and moved out, its future uncertain.

Ecomist Mike Schussler knew it was always going to be hard for South Africa's ecomy, which was in recession before pandemic.

“But we could have me it a little easier by t banning things like cigarettes and liquor,” he said.