Labella warns resto bar owners against selling liquor to minors

CEBU, Philippines - Acting Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella warned all business establishments in the city against serving liquor to minors.

Labella issued the warning after elements of Fuente Police Station rounded up several minors at the Mango Avenue last Saturday evening for drinking liquor.

The minors were seen drinking in resto bars along Mango Avenue. Unmindful of the existing ordinance against serving liquor to minors, the resto bars were allegedly selling liquor to several groups of minors.

Labella, a lawyer by profession, reiterated that businesses violating the law or those disregarding the city ordinance will be subjected to revocation of license.

“…if they will continue to violate city ordinance and laws prohibiting minors to enter bars and allow them to drink liquor they will be sanctioned accordingly subject to the cancellation of their license,” Labella said.

Labella cited City Ordinance 1786, which regulates the activities of minors at night. CO 1786 prohibits minors from loitering in the streets from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., it allows authorities to arrest minors caught in the streets, but not those in bars, clubs, Internet cafes and other establishments.

Members of the Fuente Police Station led by Chief Inspector Wildemar Tiu rounded up several minors Saturday evening. The minors, however, were released without charges because they could not be charged under the Juvenile Welfare Act.

Tiu said they conducted an operation after receiving feedback that several minors were allowed to drink liquor in resto bars along Mango Avenue.

 “Naay event ang mga bar, makita nimo nga naay mga minor nga intoxicated,” Tiu said.

He said the minors they found drinking inside the bars are about 15 to 16 years-old.

 “Kaning mga bataa nga nag-inom inig ka hubog kuyaw og mamabdos n’ya ni sila or mao ni mag cause og rumble,” Tiu added.

Tiu said he already called the attention of the bar managers and warned them not to sell liquor to minors. (FREEMAN)