Where to find “after hours” liquor

If you want to buy liquor  outside of legal hours in Panama, head for Super 99.  At El Rey you will be turned down.

The information comes from an investigative story in La Prensa, which details visits to nightspots, bars and all night supermarkets to check on the observance of a city law covering the sale of liquor,

Decree No. 1899, issued by the Mayor of Panama tregulates the hours of sale of alcohol in shops.

The initiative, known as the “carrot law” was initially introduced by former mayor Bosco Vallarino and said that, from Monday to Thursday, commercial establishments can only sell liquor until 2:00 am, and on Friday-Sunday until 3: 00 am
The decree was modified a year later by the Ministry of Public Security allowing liquor sales until 3:00 am Monday through Thursday and 4:00 am Friday-Sunday
On a Saturday At 4:05 a.m. the investigative team found the sidewalks of Calle packed with hundreds of people, bottle in hand, stumbling out of bars and nightclubs.
In Casco Viejoat 4:20 am the streets were deserted. And bars, frequented mostly by tourists, were closed.
In Santa Ana, an area home to multiple bars, all were closed.
At 4:45 am the team visitd the restaurant and bar La Melchi, in Avenue B. The restaurant was open and a couple of men are at the bar listening to music.
When the investigators asked for a couple of beers the waiter behind the bar denied them. When asked where they could buy a beer they were told there was only one place where they sold them at that time … "In the (super) 99 they sell them”.
At 5:10 am at the super 99 Albrook terminal: “We go straight to the fridge, we took a beer and proceed to pay at the checkout.”
The beer was scanned by the optical reader and the team paid and left. They returned, gpt more beer and went to another cashier with the same result
The team then visited El Rey on Via Espana and took two cans of beer to the checkout. The cashier refused to scan them: "You cannot. Not until 9:00 am." She told them. The team translated for two American tourists who were also refused.
At 6 am they visited to Super 99 on Avenida Ricardo J. Alfaro, and repeated a beer purchase The cashier's receipt was processed at 6:06 am.
They finally drove to the El Dorado shopping center where the EL Rey supermarket refused to sell beer, pointing out that no sales were allowed until 9 am.
At Super 99 in the same mall they were able to purchase beer and when the cashier was asked why the “carrot” law was not applied, they got the reply that that law was for other supermarkets.
Franklyn Quiroz ,magistrates coordinator for the Mayor of Panama, said that Decree No. 1899 provides for fines from $500 to $10,000 for violations of the law.
In the cases of recidivism the original fine would be doubled.
Anyone who wants to report any irregularity relating to compliance, can do so through 204-1100, where 10 mayoralty staff receive complaints from citizens. Or "You can put the complaint before a magistrate on duty in the local night courts, said Quiroz.
Constitutional lawyer Miguel Antonio Bernal believes that, President Ricardo Martinelli, the owner of the Super 99 chain should set an example to the people.
“Hopefully this will serve as a wakeup call and appropriate corrective steps will be taken immediately, "he added.
La Prensa said they tried on numerous occasions to get a response from Super 99 spokespersons and on visiting the company offices in Rio Abajo, on the April 20, were informed that a letter had to be written to the General Manager, Delia Luzcando.
Subsequently, the a letter with a questionnaire and copies of sales receipts published in this report wwre delivered May 8.
Ten days later, at press time, the questionnaire and phone calls were not answered says La Prensa,