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Elections Sunday mean three-day dry stretch for alcohol sales

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff


There are just four days left to buy beer for the weekend.

Municipal elections Sunday means there will be no alcohol sales Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the result of the so-called ley seca or dry law.

The law is followed as avidly as the traffic laws. Tourists at prime vacation locations will not have any trouble being served, although the drink may come in a paper cup. In neighborhoods populated by Costa Ricans little informal guaro bars pop up.

Nevertheless, the Fuerza Pública will be out all over the country sealing the entries to bars and putting plastic over alcohol displays in supermarkets. Restaurants that do part of their
business in the sale of alcohol can stay open but without providing strong drink.

This year the Sala IV constitutional court rejected an appeal of the dry law. The court found that there was no direct violation of the rights of the persons who brought the case, the Poder Judicial said Monday.

Agents of the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones will be out checking compliance with the dry law. And they are less likely to be as forgiving as the local Fuerza Públicas officers.

Violations can bring up to three years in jail.

The municipal elections are Sunday but the law goes into effect midnight Friday through midnight Monday.

Will the bars get around it somehow? I'm getting in Monday at 10 in the morning. It would suck not to be able to have a cold beer first thing?

Good question Squidface...I'll also be landing on monday.

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GO Winnipeg JETS!

Yes, tourist bars are affected. Liquor is locked away and beer coolers sealed during these dry-law days. I remember reading about the BM being limited to serving coffee, juice and sodas. Sober Blue Marlin? Almost unthinkable!

Of course, you may be able to find a cold beer...but not in a bar or supermercado.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

No beer for you!

Hey MyRivers and Squidface you can bring all the 3 oz. bottles you can fit in a 1 qt. ziploc bag with you, hope this helps.

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

Hey Paco, are you saying that you can bring the little airplane bottles of vodka in your carry on, as long as they are in 1 quart zip locks?, thanks, Frank

Have someone buy a stash for you in advance.

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PacoLoco: "You pay for it one way or another."
Ace: "Rent everything, do not buy in Costa Rica"

Yes. But, you can pack a sh*tload more in your suitcase!

I believe that everything is locked down from midnight Friday night, to midnight on Monday night. If you get into town before midnight on Friday, just stop at a liquor store or supermercado, and stock up for the weekend. My wingmen and I did this for the Presidential Elections this year, which fell on the same weekend as Superbowl 2006, and we had plenty of beer and alcohol for the weekend. Just a thought......

But, since you're getting in on Monday, just bring whatever you'll be drinking for that day. By midnight, ON THE DOT, they'll re-open the bars, and you're back in business!

MG

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

How about the duty free when i land? will they be able to sell?

This should be very interesting.

i feel sorry for the girls that have to sleep with me monday without them being drunk! obviously, i didn't get the nickname squidface due to my good looks!

Thanks MG, three of us are coming in on Tues staying at SL again, just was curious about the lil bottles for the flight, have plenty of kettle one in my golf bag, thanks again, Frank

Was down last year around Easter & experienced the "no alcohol" BM...not good. Luckily the mini bar in my room was stocked. They did restock the mini bar each day during this time and I just asked for extra bottles of Centenario, which I was given, no problem.

Hope this helps.

Violation for Alcohol sales up to 3 years in jail. Attacking or Robbing a Gringo up to 6 months. Ass backwards country.

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"You can only keep a secret between two people if the other one is dead." Ben Franklin