A liquor ban has been imposed in the province and city of Iloilo amid the continued spike in cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The ban on the sale and public consumption of liquor or alcoholic beverages, or any alcoholic drink, containing a specific percentage of alcohol by volume or weight, in the city took effect on Wednesday, May 26, and will end on Monday next week, May 31.
Alcoholic drinks may come in the form of whisky, brandy, gin, rum, cordinal, liquor, cocktail, wine, champagne, vermouth, basi, tuba, saki, beer, ale, stout and the like.
Establishments, convenience stores, groceries, sari-sari stores and other small businesses that violate, whether “directly or indirectly,” Executive Order (EO) No. 046 will face appropriate penalties provided under the Iloilo City Tax Code.
Further, all persons who knowingly break protocol, and endanger the lives of the residents of the city will face appropriate administrative and/or criminal charges.
Mayor Jerry Trenas said “the implementation of proactive measures, such as but not limited to border restrictions and total prohibition on the sale and public consumption of liquor are vital quintessential to slow down the surge in COVID-19 cases, stop further spread of variants, buy time for the health system to cope, and to protect more lives.”
Meanwhile, the liquor ban in the province will take effect on Friday, May 28, until May 31.
“The consumption/drinking in any setting, whether public or private place, and the selling, furnishing, offering, buying, serving, dispensing and transporting of alcoholic beverages, such as, whisky, brandy, gin, vodka, rum, cocktail, wine, champagne, beer and such other intoxicating drinks, shall be prohibited from May 28 to 31, 2021,” EO No. 174 stated.
The entire province is currently under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ, while the city is under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).IMT
