The local government of Valenzuela City will lift its liquor ban on Thursday, October 15.
In a Facebook post, the city government said the Stay Sober Ordinance will be lifted and will be replaced by the Liquor Regulation During Pandemic Ordinance.
The new ordinance sets certain rules for consuming and selling alcoholic beverages in the city.
Under the Liquor Regulation Ordinance, alcoholic drinks cannot be sold during curfew hours from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The ordinance also bans the selling of alcoholic beverages to minor and pregnant women.
The drinking of alcoholic beverages in public is also prohibited. Businesses and establishments are only allowed to sell a limited quantity of alcoholic beverages to its customers.
Restaurants and stores are only allowed to sell four bottles of beer or one bottle of wine per customer. Only one bottle of liquor or hard drink is allowed for two customers.
Retailers are allowed to buy 10 cases of beer and two boxes of liquor per day.
Drinking inside restobars is allowed but videoke and acoustic live bands are prohibited.
"Kung iinom ng alak ay dapat na siguraduhing nasusunod ang health and safety protocols na ipinapatupad sa lungsod (When drinking alcoholic drinks, make sure that health and safety protocols being implemented in the city are followed)," city authorities said.
"Sino mang lalabag sa ordinansang ito ay papatawan ng karampatang multa. Maaari ring matanggalan ng business permit ang mga lalabag na establisyimento (Anyone who violates this ordinance will be fined. Violating establishments could have their business permits revoked)."
Unlike other Metro Manila cities, Valenzuela did not immediately lift its liquor ban when the community quarantine in the region was relaxed.
According to Mayor Rex Gatchalian, the primary reason why the city council could not lift the ban was because Ordinance No. 681-2020 stated that the "sale, purchase, delivery and consumption" of alcoholic beverage is prohibited while the whole country is still under state or emergency.
"So, I have to abide by that," he said.
Gatchalian said maintaining the liquor ban would also prevent his constituents from violating the social distancing rules when people converge.
Valenzuela City imposed a liquor ban in March to discourage residents from going out amid the Luzon-wide quarantine due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (With a report from Joseph Pedrajas)