THE liquor ban was lifted last Monday, one of the most awaited events for many since March when the Enhanced Community Quarantine was imposed to combat the dreaded COVID-19. The pandemic is still very much around but life has to go on and we have to live alongside the virus by seriously sticking to health protocols to avoid contracting the coronavirus.
Even as the ban is lifted, the city is enforcing a “one-strike rule” on establishments caught violating the restrictions on serving and selling of alcoholic drinks. The Vices Regulation Unit and barangay officials are mandated to monitor establishments for violations of Executive Order 50-A issued on Sept. 22, 2020. This new order provides for additional guidelines on serving alcoholic and intoxicating drinks.
Under the new guideline, business establishments are allowed specific servings of beer, cocktail drink and liquor that can be served to customers. This also conforms to Sec. 3 of the Department of Trade and Industry Memorandum Circular No. 20-39 Series of 2020 that only allows two servings of alcoholic beverages in restaurants and food businesses.
But those who want to indulge can just buy to their heart’s content in groceries, supermarkets and warehouses as long as they consume these in their homes. Sari-sari stores may sell liquor and alcoholic beverages but they are not allowed to serve it in their premises, as some usually do before the pandemic. Converging in one place is still very much prohibited.
We are not yet free from COVID-19 and while we are trying to resume our activities, health protocols should trump it all.
