Convenience stores serving 3 or more liquor to be closed

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña will ask the councilors to sponsor an ordinance that will allow the city government to close convenience stores that will violate city's rules.

Osmeña said stores that are serving liquor to minors are already proliferating.

“My proposal is that we will pass an ordinance. If we catch anyone who leaves a convenience store drunk, whether adult or minor because he's been served in the store, we will close the store,” he said.

For as long as the convenience stores will be serving two liquor drinks, Osmeña said he will allow it.

He, however, admitted that the city cannot be there at all times to monitor the stores, but the closure order will be served if somebody will be caught drunk leaving the store.

The mayor said he will be asking the police and the barangay tanods for the implementation of the ordinance when approved by the City Council.

“It's up to them to regulate. It's also good for the store…sorry I can't serve you because we're breaking the law. Nahubog ka na. You have to go home safely,” he said.

Osmeña said the city will no longer give a warning to these stores.

“Ni-leave sa store nga hubog, that's more than enough warning. Duha ka beer, okay ra na. But when the police see them tumbling out of the store, or he has to be carried out of the store, we'll close the store,” he added.

Osmeña said the monitoring of the police and tanods will be easy since there are stores already known as drinking session of people.

He said it's a different scene during Sinulog since there are certain drinking spots in the carousel route that will be closed.

Sought for comment, Councilor David Tumulak said he is willing to sponsor the proposed legislation in the City Council.

Tumulak, deputy mayor for police matters, said he will sit down in a meeting with the mayor to discuss the details of the proposed legislation.

He agreed with the mayor that the convenience stores should be regulated, since there are several of them selling liquors without paying taxes.

“I think we can close them for serving liquors kay some of the stores man gud has permits for selling liquors, but no permits for serving liquors. We can enforce that,” he said.

Tumulak said there are other known convenience stores that are violating other ordinances of the city like extending their stores in their parking areas, which is prohibited.

He said he will coordinate with the Cebu City Police Office and City Treasurer's Office to remind the convenience stores to follow the city's ordinances.