DAVAO CITY – Mayor Sara Duterte here said she is contemplating on lifting the 24/7 ban on selling and serving of alcoholic beverages in this city.
But Duterte said the city government has yet to think of ways on how it could address the demand of locals for liquor while, at the same time, prevent them from holding drinking sessions where COVID-19 is likely to happen.
She said she has no qualms about people consuming alcoholic beverages but added that she is concerned about the people gathering together in one place to drink.
“One of the things that we have been thinking of is how we can cater to those who want to buy (and consume) liquors in such a way that gathering is avoided, so that our businessmen can finally do business,” she said.
Although she is open to lifting the ban, Duterte said that the city government remains wary of removing it because of the tendency of the people to get together once the liquor becomes conveniently available to them.
“What the alcoholic drinkers cannot see… is the attitude of the people to buy and gather if alcoholic drinks are already available at the ‘sari-sari’ store. They will surely buy and get together. That’s sure, 100 percent. That’s a human nature,” she said.
Last March 25, Duterte issued Executive Order 12-A extending for another two months the 24/7 ban on selling, serving, or consumption of liquor and any other alcoholic or intoxicating drinks in public as well as curfew hours from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily until May 31. The ban has been in effect since Nov. 2, to put the transmission of COVID-19 under control.
Duterte said COVID-19 can spread quickly during gatherings.
“That’s not unvalidated because we have patients whose exposure is during drinking session,” she said.