Back to normal in LT after old liquor law stirs pubs

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – It is back to normal here after implementation of an old liquor ordinance in this capital town, known for its strawberry wine,  threw the nightspot industry here in turmoil with stakeholders griping.

This, after the municipal government, under mayor Edna Tabanda implemented a 1996 local law limiting sale of liquor until 8 p.m.

This raised a howl among bar owners who made a petition opposing it but Tabanda said the law has not been amended or abolished and the municipal government hads to implement it.

At press time however, reports had it that the mayor told bar owners she would suspend implementation of the ordinance while the municipal council has not yet made recommendations on what to do with it.

        

The mayor said she talked with council members who are now studying provisions of the ordinance to make it more up to date with the times.

In a press conference at the municipal hall, Tabanda reprimanded police to be more circumspect in implementing provisions of the ordinance.

Bar owners complained some police officers reportedly went to nightspots last week every 8 to 9 p.m. nightly covering their name plates and telling everybody to stop drinking liquor and leave.

Footage taken from a CCTV camera showed police officers telling customers of a Department of Tourism-accredited bar they won’t leave until all customers get out.

Other bar owners cited instances when police allegedly poured drinks of customers to compel them to move out.

In the press conference, Tabanda, in the presence of top town police officers, said she never ordered them to close any establishment or make customers go out.

She told police to be gentle in addressing customers. In the meantime the liquor ordinance has not been amended, Tabanda said customers may stay in nightspots after 8 p.m. to finish their drinks, have dinner or enjoy music.

“It is only the dispensation or sale of liquor that has to stop by 8 p.m.” she said, adding, even establishments accredited by the DOT as tourism establishments will have to comply with the rule.

A consultation was held with bar owners at the municipal hall on the matter with councilors Rod Awingan, Jim Botiwey and Henry Kipas wherein the former aired their gripes and called for longer hours to operate at night considering they pay taxes and have to contend with high rentals.

During the meeting, police said crime mostly those involving physical assaults drastically went down after the ordinance was implemented.

The councilors said they would present recommendations to the sanggunianbayan (municipal council) for appropriate action like amending the ordinance to be forwarded to the municipal mayor for review or approval. -- AD