Iquique councilors demand midnight alcohol cutoff for festivities

Council members in Iquique have submitted a formal request to the mayor to implement strict alcohol sales restrictions during the upcoming national holidays. The proposal, signed by several councilors including Martín Lonza and Carolina Valdés, seeks to set a midnight deadline for the sale of alcoholic beverages at festivities located near the Tadeo Haenke Avenue and Playa Brava residential areas.

The request aims to protect local residents from noise, trash, and antisocial behavior. Councilors cited a serious incident from the 2025 celebrations, where a 14-year-old minor was hospitalized due to alcohol poisoning at a local venue, as a primary reason for needing tighter identity controls and shorter operating hours.