Philippines: Bill to Ban Alcohol Use in Public Spaces
The chairman of the House of Representatives’ committee on health has filed a bill to ban alcohol use in public spaces.
Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan’s House Bill 3047 prohibits,
- the selling, serving, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages in all streets, pathways, plazas, alleys, sidewalks, parks, and parking areas;
- consumption of alcohol in all establishments between 12 to eight o’ clock in the morning.
However, restaurants, clubs, hotels, retail stores, supermarkets, fastfood chains, canteens, cafés, bar and cocktail lounges and other places with common business areas located within Metropolitan Manila, highly urbanized areas, and Special Economic Zones, may be allowed to sell or serve alcohol until two in the morning, according to Rep. Angelina Tan’s House Bill.
President Duterte is focusing on strengthening alcohol control in the Philippines. He mentioned banning alcohol consumption after midnight and an act on increasing and restructuring the excise tax rates on alcohol, as priority measures in his fourth State of the Nation Address on July 22, 2019. He also intends to fund a free health care programme through the excise tax revenue if the act is passed.