Costa Rica News – Only 12 of the country’s 81 municipalities have confirmed that they will be enforcing the temporary alcohol ban during the celebrations taking place this 15th September.
The National Union of Local Governments has said that Councils of Cartago, Liberia, Goicoechea, Santa Bárbara, Santo Domingo, Alajuelita, Moravia, Montes de Oca, Palmares, Turrialba, Esparza and Aserrí will be prohibiting the sale of alcohol during the Independence Day festivities.
In other cantons such as San Rafael, Curridabat, Valverde Vega, Naranjo, San Ramón and Pérez Zeledón, no agreement has been reached about whether to enforce the law or not.
Of the municipalities questioned, 59 said that they would not be enforcing the law, and another two did not respond.
According to the reformed Electoral Code and the new Alcohol Law, municipalities now have the power to prohibit the sale of alcohol drinks during Independence Day celebrations. The decision will be made according to each canton’s priorities and traditions.
The law suggests economic sanctions for those going against the law in cantons where it is being enforced, and in the case of multiple offences, trading licenses may be revoked.
The total sanctions could be a minimum of ¢400,000.
Translated by Leah Hendre form La Nacion
