Welsh Government brands social media rumours of alcohol ban in shops as “simply not true”

The Welsh Government has described rumours that it was planning to introduce an alcohol ban in shops across Wales as “simply not true”.

Although it’s unclear where the claims have originated from, there have been a number of people sharing inaccurate information on Twitter claiming that shops will be stopped from selling alcohol from December 17th.

The sale of alcohol in the likes of pubs and restaurants has been banned – along with a 6pm closing time – as part of the new measures introduced last week in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.

However the rumours have taken this a step further by claiming that shops will not be allowed to sell alcohol when the Welsh Government meet to discuss any changes to the current restrictions next week.

The Welsh Government rubbished these rumours, describing them in a tweet today as “simply not true” and instead encouraged people to get “accurate information” by checking its website or by viewing the press conferences every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12:15pm.

However Welsh Government sources appear to have been stronger in their wording to ITV Wales’ Adrian Masters and Wales Online reporter Will Hayward.

Just asked a Welsh Government source about rumours of a supermarket alcohol ban on December 17.

These are are direct quotes from the conversation:
– Not a thing
– Bollocks
– Utter bollocks
– Made up
– Untrue
– Tripe
– Drivel
– Beyond false

— Will Hayward (@WillHayCardiff) December 9, 2020

Rumours of a possible ban on alcohol sales in Wales are ‘Complete and utter nonsense’ according to a Welsh Govt source. Although the word used wasn’t ‘nonsense’

— Adrian Masters (@adrianmasters84) December 9, 2020

Wales’ Health Minister Vaughan Gething has previously urged people to be more cautious over what they share on social media.

Twitter recently started taking action on some content on the social media platform and now regularly decides to fully remove, hide from direct view, or place ‘unsubstantiated’ warnings on tweets that they deem as requiring it.

The labels have most notably been used on tweets by outgoing US President Donald Trump.

When asked in October if the Welsh Government had held discussions with social media networks, Vaughan Gething said: “People who put false stories on the social media are the first point in taking responsibility.

“People who run those platforms, who profit from those platforms also need to have a share of responsibility.

“All of us need to look again at the position that we’re in because I’m afraid that we’ll see infection rates continue to rise.”