As is traditional during election periods, the national government has decreed an alcohol ban as a measure to prevent disturbances of public order and ensure that, in this case, the election day next Sunday takes place peacefully.
The decision establishes a nationwide restriction on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages starting this Saturday, May 30, at 6:00 p.m. However, the Bogota Mayor’s Office determined that the prohibition will begin 24 hours earlier, that is, this Friday, May 29, also at 6:00 p.m.
The alcohol ban will be applied in a mandatory and continuous manner in both urban and rural areas of all municipalities across the country. Decree 188 of the national government establishes that the measure begins on Saturday, May 30, at 6:00 p.m. and ends on Monday, June 1, at 12:00 p.m. During that period, the commercialization of alcoholic beverages in any form, as well as their consumption, is absolutely prohibited.
Measures to maintain or restore public order
However, local authorities and municipal mayors have the legal authority to tighten the restrictions if they consider that the security conditions in their territories require it. For that reason, Bogota Mayor Carlos Fernando Galan decreed that the measure in the capital will begin this Friday, May 29, at 6:00 p.m. and will extend until Monday, June 1, at 12:00 p.m.
In both cases, the alcohol ban decrees cover both the sale and consumption of alcohol, directly affecting establishments open to the public and consumers such as bars, stores, restaurants, and liquor shops. In practice, during that period, the commercialization of alcoholic beverages and their consumption in public spaces or places subject to authority control will not be permitted.
The measures are intended to maintain or restore public order, an expression that in this context aims to reduce the risks of fights, disturbances to public coexistence, or events that could interfere with the normal development of the elections.
Those who violate them will be subject to corrective sanctions by mayors, police inspectors, and station commanders, as provided in Law 1801 of 2016, which corresponds to the National Police and Coexistence Code.
Thus, the sanction is not limited to a simple warning, but may translate into fines and other administrative decisions. Noncompliance carries a Type 4 general fine, which this year corresponds to 933,816 Colombian pesos (US$253). In addition, police authorities may apply additional measures to offending commercial establishments, such as closure or temporary suspension of business activities.
Protests in Bogota over the early alcohol ban
In the case of Bogota, the 24-hour advance implementation of the measure provoked rejection from sectors involved in the alcoholic beverage trade and related establishments. For that reason, they called for demonstrations in the city this same Friday. As a result, the Colombian capital could face traffic congestion or road closures due to the presence of protesters.
The trade association United Bars of Colombia called for the participation of business owners, workers, merchants, and suppliers of nightlife establishments that could suffer major impacts on their operations as a result of the restriction.
Preliminary information indicated that the gathering point was at Bolivar Square, starting at 8:00 a.m. this Friday, and would continue until an agreement is reached with the district administration.
The city’s decision took them by “surprise,” Fernando Bastidas, president of United Bars of Colombia, told the newspaper El Tiempo. He also questioned the scope of the measure by stating that “the alcohol ban should begin on Saturday, election day, and not on Friday. It is too much time, it is unnecessary, and it seriously affects the entire productive chain.”
If no agreement is reached between the trade association and the city, Bastidas indicated that there could be various forms of protest such as marches, sit-ins, chaining demonstrations, signature drives, and candlelight vigils.