Dominican Republic deputy proposes new alcohol sales limits

A legislative proposal has been submitted to the Dominican Republic's Chamber of Deputies to regulate the sale of alcoholic beverages. Introduced by Deputy Ramón Bueno of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), the bill seeks to establish specific timeframes for the sale of liquor in various establishments, including bars, casinos, nightclubs, and grocery stores.

Under the proposed law, alcohol sales would be prohibited after 2:00 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and the eve of holidays. From Sunday to Thursday, the deadline for sales would be midnight. The bill specifies that once these hours pass, establishments must cease all sales, regardless of whether the alcohol is for immediate consumption or for takeaway.

Exemptions from these restrictions would include hotels, tourist complexes, commercial flights, maritime vessels, and authorized temporary events. The initiative follows a ruling by the Constitutional Court, which declared the previous Decree 308-06 unconstitutional, stating that permanent restrictions on alcohol sales must be grounded in law rather than executive decree. The court has maintained the current restrictions temporarily for two years to prevent a legal vacuum while Congress works on permanent legislation.