The Muntinlupa City government has lifted the total liquor ban to allow limited sale and consumption of alcohol in the city.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi signed Ordinance 2021-232 on May 5 that was passed by the City Council.
Under the new law, the sale of liquor and other alcoholic beverages is now allowed in commercial establishments permitted by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases during the duration of the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ).
The ordinance imposed restrictions on the sale and consumption of liquor and other alcoholic beverages.
The sale of these items to minors and those already intoxicated is prohibited and limited to Muntinlupa residents only. A Muntinlupa resident needs to present a government-issued ID when purchasing alcohol.
In addition, the sale of liquor and other intoxicating beverages is limited from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and social drinking involving persons not living in the same residence nor members of the same household is prohibited even when done in a private residence.
The ordinance now allows the drinking of liquor and other alcoholic beverages in public places including restaurants, resto bars, and other commercial establishments permitted by the IATF but is limited to a maximum of two bottles of beer and two glasses of hard drinks, wine, and whisky per person.
Violators of the ordinance will be penalized. For persons who are consumers, buyers or sellers, a fine of P2,500 will be imposed for the first offense and P5,000 for the second offense.
For business establishments, closure for one week will be imposed for the first offense and revocation of business permit will be meted out for the second offense.
The National Capital Region (NCR), Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal are under the MECQ until May 14.
“The easing of the community quarantine likewise necessitates the lifting of the liquor ban for economic reasons without compromising the health and safety of the city's constituents,” according to the ordinance.