New liquor rules to be tested near schools

NO more drinking of liquor near schools.

Msgr. Achilles Dakay, head of the Cebu City Liquor Licensing Commission, said yesterday that bars and stores operating within the university belt will only be allowed to sell liquor but will be prohibited from serving alcoholic beverages to customers under a measure they are set to test.

Dakay however admitted that they cannot force establishments to follow this directive until after the measure they are pilot-testing gets incorporated as an amendment to the city’s existing liquor regulatory ordinance.

“Magsurveillancemi aron mahibaw-an ug kinsay ni tuman,” he said.

The commission had been calling owners of about 10 bars and stores operating within the 100 meter radius from the University of San Carlos (USC) to a meeting to warn them against the city’s no drinking policy near schools.

Commission members met yesterday with Mari Giev Flores, owner of the Knockbox restaurant and the recently closed Kuerks Bar, and former Kamagayan barangay captain Mansueto Avila whose family owns “Mr. J” restobar located beside the USC law school.

Dakay said they explained the commission’s new policy which also has the approval of mayor Michael Rama and “they promised to comply.”

In next week’s meeting, liquor commissioners intend to finalize the proposed amendments which they will present before the city council.

Under the existing ordinance, restobars and stores operating within the 100 meter radius from schools and churches are allowed to serve liquor after 10 p.m.

Dakay said they wanted the policy changed.

Starting next year, Cebu City will no longer be issuing special liquor licenses to any business establishments, he said. /Chief Of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac