‘If you must drink, don’t get drunk’

THE LIQUOR ban takes effect on Sunday until election day, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday reminded the public, urging all to stay cool and help keep the peace on election day.

“We’ve seen people get into arguments over traffic violations. We’ve seen people get shot in the head for singing the wrong song at the wrong time. What more with a serious matter as the elections? Just keep yourselves safe, be practical. It’s just one night,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told reporters in an interview.

“If you are going to drink during the elections, try not to get intoxicated. Do it in your own home and if you’re drunk, just sleep it off,” said Jimenez.

Jimenez said a liquor ban was practical since elections were usually very hotly contested.

“If you have a situation where passions are running high because of elections and they are further fueled by intoxicants, you can imagine how difficult that might be in terms of keeping the peace and most importantly in terms of people keeping themselves safe,” he said.

Violation of the liquor ban is an election offense that carries a penalty of six months to six years jail term, suspension of one’s right to suffrage and disqualification from holding public office.

The violation also applies to distributors and retailers of alcoholic beverages. Comelec Resolution No. 10095, which was promulgated last month, prohibits any person—including owners and managers of hotels, resorts, restaurants and other establishments—to sell offer, buy, serve, or take intoxicating liquor anywhere in the Philippines from May 8 to 9.

Exempted from the ban are hotels, resorts, restaurants that have certifications from the Department of Tourism as tourist-oriented and “habitually in the business of catering to foreign tourists,” according to the resolution.

But it stressed that only foreign tourists drinking alcoholic drinks in these hotels or establishments are exempted from the prohibition.

The Comelec had given establishments serving foreign tourists time to apply and secure an exemption through the regional election director, provincial election supervisor or city election officer in their respective city or district.