Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte will not lift the 24/7 liquor ban even after the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) ends on May 30.
“Dili, sorry, because naa ta’y tulo ka patient, sultian lang ta’mo, tulo ka patient sila, lahi-lahi nga cases, naa sila’y history didto nga nakig-inom (No, I’m sorry, because we have three patients with separate cases, who have a history of drinking sessions),” Mayor Sara said over the Davao City Disaster Radio on Thursday.
She added that Dabawenyos must start to think of the health benefits of no access to alcoholic drinks.
“Huna-hunaa na lang ninyo na mas maayo na para sa inyong mga liver. Naextend ang inyohang mga kinabuhi by two months. So instead na mamatay mo ug 80 years old, mamatay mo 80 years old and two months tungod aning Covid-19. Gisave nila ang inyohang liver (Just think it would be better for your liver. Your lives are extended by two months. So instead of dying 80 years old, you will die at 80 years old and two months because of Covid-19. It saved your liver),” the mayor said in jest.
Recall that Mayor Sara banned liquor 24/7 during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) on April 6, 2020, as one of the preventive measures to discourage getting together for drinking sessions or partying amid coronavirus pandemic.
Doctors have also declared that liquor is not good for the immune system.
While people are not prohibited to drink inside their homes if they have spare liquor bottles, Mayor Sara warned against buying and selling of alcoholic drinks.
“You can always consume it inside your house kung naa pa mo’y nakatago dinha. Wala ma’y bawal kung mag-inom mo sa sulod sa inyohang balay kung naa mo’y alak, but you cannot buy and you cannot sell (You can always consume it inside your house if you have a spare one. It is not prohibited to drink inside the house but you cannot buy and sell),” Mayor Sara said.
She added that the drinking culture called “tagay” which is drinking with friends using only one glass for everyone, can be contagious and the contact-tracing process will be an extra burden. CIO
