Stricter policy on liquor consumption pushed

The sale and consumption of liquor in Mandaue City will soon be regulated as the city government wants business establishments to secure separate licenses to sell and serve alcoholic beverages, respectively.

In a proposed ordinance of Councilor Nilo Seno, approved on first reading last week, the city government wants to prevent anti-social behavior and intimidation to law-abiding residents.

The proposed ordinance shall be known as “An Act Regulating the Sale and Consumption of Intoxicating Liquor in the City of Mandaue.”

Under the proposal, no establishments will be allowed to sell and serve liquor within the city without getting a License to Sell Liquor and a License to Serve Liquor from the Business Permit and Licensing Office.

These licenses should go together. If one of the required licenses is lacking, no store shall be allowed to operate.

“The local government unit, in its desire to continually safeguard the best interests of its constituents most especially the minors, has adopted measures to mitigate the growing problem of alcohol dependency in the City,” Seno said.

For those business establishments that are open for 24 hours, they are mandated not to sell liquor from 12 midnight until 7 a.m.

"The affected establishments are required to cover the liquor display with a black cloth during the said time," reads the proposed ordinance. If a store or establishment secures a license to sell, they will be required that "the seal of the liquor must not be broken within the premises of the store and that it is prohibited for any person to consume liquor in any public space.”

The "License to Serve Liquor" will not be given to any establishment that is located in open public spaces, including convenience stores and sari-sari stores, Seno emphasized.

Playgrounds, health and hospital compound, transportation terminals, sports grounds or centers, church grounds, parks, resorts, walkways, entranceway, as well as the sidewalks, gasoline stations, markets, and other areas where people gather are the places not allowed for drinking alcoholic beverages.

It would also be unlawful for any person or establishment to sell or serve liquor to minors. If cashiers or store attendants are having doubts about the buyer's age, they must ask for any proof that the buyer is of legal age, according to the ordinance.

Seno said the city government will impose penalties, including fines, cancellation of license to sell, license to serve and business permits against the violators.

Although the proposed ordinance was already approved on first reading, Seno said there are still provisions that needed revisions.

"Approved siya on first reading but daghan pa siya'g usbononon. I-review pa nato ang past ordinances," he said.