Customers queue to buy alcohol at Makro Silverlakes Liquor Store. Liquor sales resumed, but for home consumption only.

JOHANNESBURG - Retail group Massmart says it lost approximately R2.3-billion in liquor sales during the April and May lockdown period.

The sale of alcohol was prohibited under lockdown Levels 4 and 5. 

READ: Level 3: Consumers urged not to panic buy alcohol

Massmart had to confront the lockdown already embattled.

It was in the midst of turning its operations around in March when the nationwide lockdown started, having closed its Dion Wired stores a week earlier.

READ: Massmart could close over 30 stores in SA

Massmart says it expects interim profits for the six months to end June to be at least 50 percent worse than last year.

The group said it has continued to meet all payment obligations to suppliers and employees.

Article Source: https://www.enca.com/business/massmart-loses-billions-due-alcohol-ban