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"Ley Seca" For A Few Hours On "Game" Day!
Soccer fans on the morning of June 9, the opening game of the 2006 World Cup game between Costa Rica and Germany, is not a Semana Santa day, but it sure will feel like it.

The "ley seca" or "dry law" that prohibits the sale of liquor will come into effect the morning of June 9, until 11:00am, when all bars will be forced to remain closed.

Those who want to get into the "party" early will have it do it elsewhere, as all "watering holes" will be under the watchful eye of authorities who can shut down the establishment for 24 hours.

The game begins at 10:00am local time.

Hotels and restaurants that have a "tourist" license by the ICT (Instituto Costarricense de Turismo - tourist board) will be allowed to sell liquor as normal, according to Guillermo Sanabría, president of the Cámara de Patentes de Licores.

Supermarkets will be able to sell liquor as liquor is not consumed at the location. Liquor bought at supermarkets cannot be consumed in public places, however few law officials enforce that rule.


Sanabría added that those establishments that break the dry law can also face losing their liquor license.

Many bars who plan to open for the morning of the game will be forced to sell soft drinks until 11:00am. Manuel Garro, director of the Policía Municipal de San José, said that his officers will be keeping a close eye on the different establishments to ensure that no one "gets smart" with them.