BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia has lifted the liquor ban here.
“The ban on the selling of liquor, wine, beer, or any alcoholic or intoxicating beverage is hereby totally lifted, subject to continuing evaluation,” Leonardia stated in Executive Order (EO) 39 effective on the first day of the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in the metro.
The total lifting of the liquor ban came a week after the mayor issued EO 37 giving the green light to the partial lifting of the ban on the sale of liquor and allowed the consumption of such only inside houses.
“In the light of the resumption of operations of the enumerated businesses during the MGCQ, the partial liquor ban in the city needs to be reassessed, with due consideration to the strict observance of social distancing and minimum health standards imposed by the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry,” the mayor’s directive read.
With the lifting of the liquor ban, the consumption of liquor or any alcoholic beverages shall be allowed in public but establishments or businesses engaged in the selling or serving thereof shall comply with the minimum health standards.
Customers of said establishments or businesses must also observe social distancing, avoid sharing glasses, and comply with other imposed health protocols.
Moreover, Section 3 stated that the selling and consumption of liquor and alcoholic beverages shall be subject to the daily curfew from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. as imposed in E0 28 and in the ordinance recently enacted by the City Council.
In March, Leonardia issued EO 25 that prohibited the selling of liquor and ordered the closure of videoke bars, and internet stations in the city as part of the more stringent physical distancing measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019. (With a report from PNA/PN)
