Mandaue to impose ban on liquor after midnight
The Mandaue City Government will propose an ordinance that will prohibit convenience stores and gasoline stations from selling liquor after midnight as part of maintaining peace and order in the city.
Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing said they will also include in the ordinance the prohibition on drinking liquor within the premises of these stores.
The mayor’s announcement came after a known convenience store in the country, which has a branch in front of Mandaue City Hall, was ordered closed for failing to secure a business permit from the City.
“I’m really disappointed with that 7-Eleven branch because, my goodness, they’re right across the street. There’s really no excuse other than they really had no intention of following the law,” said the mayor in a press conference yesterday.
Quisumbing signed the closure order last week.
Aside from failing to secure a business permit, Quisumbing said, the branch “has been very
Most of them have been abusing it. Many of them have been operating as bars. Maayo unta if they take some sort of responsibility for the alcohol that they serve or whatever, but most of them don’t. MANDAUE CITY MAYOR GABRIEL LUIS QUISUMBING
troublesome.”
The branch management set up tables in the middle of the road since the road in front of the City Hall has been closed.
“In effect they are operating as a bar,” said Quisumbing.
City Administrator Danilo Almendras and City Legal Officer Omar Redula met with representatives of convenience stores and gasoline stations in the city last week to inform them about the city’s plan to pass an ordinance prohibiting them from selling liquor past midnight.
“An additional requirement is that gas station patrons are not allowed to consume liquor on the premises. If they want to buy, so be it, but they cannot consume it on the premises,” said the mayor.
The mayor also received reports that there is one gasoline station that has a live band every weekend.
“Grabe sad kaayo na, oy (That’s too much). That is a violation of the privilege operating a business in Mandaue City,” said Quisumbing.
The mayor also received a report that a popular convenience store in Mandaue is being used as a convergence point for prostitution. A friend of the mayor bought food in this convenience store and was surprised that a younger woman approached him, offering sex for a fee.
“Most of them have been abusing it. Many of them have been operating as bars. Maayo unta if they take some sort of responsibility about alcohol that they serve or whatever, but most of them don’t,” Quisumbing said.