THE CITY’S Vices Regulation Unit will keep a close eye on business establishments selling or serving alcoholic drinks as the liquor ban will be lifted on Sept. 21.
Sec. 4(b) of the Department of Trade and Industry Memorandum Circular No. 20-44 s. 2020, states that beerhouses and similar establishments whose primary business is serving of alcoholic drinks are not allowed to operate under any form of community quarantine.
VRU chief Ashley Lopez said that his office will intensify the inspections and monitoring of establishments that are still prohibited from selling and serving liquor, such as beerhouses, clubs, and bars.
“Upon lifting of the 24-hour liquor ban, people can buy alcoholic drinks in sari-sari stores, groceries, and malls and are encourage to consume liquor in their houses,” Lopez said.
The ban on selling, serving, and consuming liquor will still be imposed from 1 a.m. until 8 a.m., according to City Ordinance No. 004-13 or the Liquor Ban Ordinance.
The VRU chief also urged Davaoeños to practice self-discipline since the city is still under quarantine. The unit will also continue to monitor gatherings, especially drinking parties in houses.
Meanwhile, restaurants whose main business is not selling liquor but serves alcohol drinks will be regulated. Lopez said that they are only allowed to serve two servings per customer.
“Single-serving means one shot per customer so a maximum of two shots for every customer,” he said.
Mayor Sara Duterte said they have negative list of establishments that are not allowed to sell alcohol.
The local government will no longer issue a separate executive order to lift the liquor ban on Sept. 21 to help other establishments get back to their services.
In March this year, the city moved the liquor ban from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. About a week later, Duterte ordered to impose a 24-hour alcohol ban to slow down the transmission of COVID-19.
