Mayor changes liquor sales law

SOON AFTER media stories revealed that Super 99 stores were breaking city imposed liquor sales laws riasing the ire of President Ricard Martinelli, Panama’s mayor has amended Executive Order No. 1899, known as the "carrot law."

That’s the law which regulates the hours for sale of alcohol in the capital. The change was confirmed on Monday, May 20, by Mayor, Roxana Mendez, who did not say when it will become effective.

The decree states that shops, supermarkets, restaurants, casinos, gambling halls and hotels, whose main business is not the sale or dispensing of alcoholic beverages, can continue operating after hours.
Until now there was a ban on the sale, and / or free distribution of alcoholic beverages after hours. The centers selling alcoholic beverages in the district of Panama, according to the decree, could only operate on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. the next day.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday they could operate from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. the next day. With the modification they will be allowed to sell liquor in supermarkets around the clock.
Mendez said that this amendment is more suited to Executive Decrees issued by the Ministry of Security in November 2011.