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Municipalities take agreements to implement Prohibition or Easter
MARCH 14, 2013


After it took effect the new Liquor Act in August last year, the municipalities were in charge of choosing whether or not to apply, during Prohibition as Easter dates, therefore this is the first time that the decision remains in hands of each local government and that this is not a national provision.

Jonathan Espinoza, Advocacy Coordinator of the Union of Local Government, said that Article 26 of this law states that it is the responsibility of each municipality to ban the sale of liquor on the days that are demarcated.

"This can be done by two ways either by agreement of the City Council or by the municipal regulation Act 9047 (Act regulation and marketing of alcoholic beverages) under this provision each of the 81 counties that presents different realities may well demarcate Thursday and Friday with Prohibition and there will be others who are not going to do-especially-sights "Espinoza said.

Also he said that even municipalities can declare Prohibition not necessarily around the corner, but in areas demarcated or established.

"It will be up to the same municipality in coordination with the security forces, to ensure the whole issue of control and not effectively enforce the sale of liquor. In the event that any municipality has not declared for free trade issue, it may extend the sale of alcoholic beverages both Thursday and Friday. There was that Prohibition was removed, if it was to be transferred to the local government decision, "said Espinoza.

He said some municipalities with municipal police must take the agreement to carry out operational plans for governing on Prohibition or not, whether to ensure that they fulfill the mandate or otherwise implement preventive measures for non Abuse liquor.

"Each municipality should make its patented publishing and affected to inform them about the decision of the deal they made," said Espinoza.

Mario Zamora, Minister of Public Safety, said that every Unit Cantonal ministry will coordinate with the municipal jurisdiction that applies to you and it is through this contact that will suit the actions of the police to the specifications determined by each municipality.

So far San Jose, Heredia, Cartago, Limón, Puntarenas, San Pedro and Escazú are the municipalities that agreed to implement Prohibition during Easter.

Instead Nicoya, Santa Cruz and most likely Curridabat decided not to apply. These two municipalities are already taking preventive measures to avoid problems or excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages for those days.

"Do not be fulfilling the purpose that people achieve recoup what are now voluminous amounts of money to be paid to the patent, then enact a prohibition in this context really go against the patent, therefore we raised the possibility of some regulations around this for the purposes of this year, so that the non-implementation of Prohibition, "the mayor of Nicoya, Marco Antonio Jimenez.

Meanwhile municipalities such as Alajuela, Liberia and Golfito not yet approved any agreement governing such legislation.

This law states that municipalities will be responsible for ensuring compliance with regulations and implement actions when patented breach legislation, so it is important to know whether each county is applied or not Prohibition.

San José will not enforce alcohol dry law for Semana Santa
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Municipalidad de San José said Thursday that the so-called dry law will not be enforced in the central canton for Semana Santa.

That does not mean expats will have an easy time getting a cold beer next Thursday or Friday.

Several operators of watering holes frequented by expats are undecided as to what they will do. They had planned to close because the municipality had not announced its intentions. A new alcohol law gives the local governments the right to determine if the dry period will be enforced.

Cartago already said there will be no alcohol in that central canton Holy Thursday and Good Friday. The Municipalidad de Nicoya said it would not enforce the law.

San José quoted Marcelo Solano Ortiz, head of the Policía Municipal, saying that other laws would be enforced. These include a prohibition of drinking on the public street or in religious processions. The penalty is a fine of 157,000 colons, slightly more than $300.

The municipality also encouraged drinkers to do so in
moderation in order to preserve the public order.

Until two years ago, municipal police and Fuerza Pública officers would show up at supermarkets, bars and restaurants the Wednesday night of Holy Week, Semana Santa. At supermarkets they would make sure the alcohol displays were covered, usually with a heavy, black plastic. They would apply municipal seals. At bars, they would put seals on the door to show no one could enter until Saturday morning. At restaurants that did a significant business in food, they would put seals on the refrigerators and cabinets that held alcohol.

Expat drinkers knew enough in those days to stock up on alcohol before the two-day dry law went into effect. Tourists, on the other hand, sometimes were surprised that alcohol only was available under the table. Tourism operators and bar owners had been complaining about the loss in income.

Economics figures in to the decision by bar owners who may or may not stay open those two days this year. Both Thursday and Friday are legal holidays, so employees will collect double pay if they work those days. If they do not, alcoholic beverages presumably will be available at supermarket outlets.

The law originated in an effort to respect the religious sensibilities during the week before Easter