LIST: Liquor Bans in Metro Manila (UPDATED September 2021)

UPDATE: Quezon City and San Juan  have both officially lifted the liquor bans as the capital region shifts to Alert Level 4 starting Thursday, September 16, 2021.

The latest memorandum published by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte states that liquor selling “may be sold at any time except during public safety hours (10 p.m. to 4 a.m.).”

“Liquor Selling. Liquor may be sold at any time except during public safety hours (10 pm to4 am). Drinking on sidewalks and other public places (i.e., not inside a home or establishment) shall remain prohibited. As an exception, the sale of liquor shall be banned inside Special Concern Lockdown areas.”

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora also announced in a Facebook post on Wednesday that the city would allow alcohol consumption again but “only inside homes and restaurants.” 

According to Boozy.ph, the non-serviceable areas due to liquor bans are currently Laguna, Navotas, Pateros and Valenzuela.

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Liquor Ban Season 3 – August to September 2021

As of August 2021, Metro Manila is heading into the third lockdown because of the threat of the Delta variant, which means liquor bans are being imposed once again. According to the latest news updates, several cities & municipalities will be issuing liquor bans which will take effect starting August 6, 2021.

Be prepared and drink responsibly at home by ordering your essential supplies beforehand from online liquor delivery services.

Eight local government units in the National Capital Region will reportedly impose a liquor ban during the two-week enhanced community quarantine starting August 6, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benhur Abalos announced on Monday, August 2, 2021.

The imposition of a liquor ban depends on the respective local government. Abalos mentioned the following cities to have liquor bans:

“At nakikita naming ang Valenzuela, ang Mandaluyong, Paranaque, Pasay, Navotas, Pateros, Quezon City at San Juan, may mga liquor ban.” 

(Based on our records, Valenzuela, Mandaluyong, Paranaque, Pasay, Navotas, Pateros, Quezon City, and San Juan have liquor ban).

“So far may mga LGUs kasi na nagsasabi na wala silang liquor ban, kamukha ng Makati ng Taguig, Pasig, at Las Pinas,” he added.

Sources: ABS-CBN News, Rappler (as of August 2, 2021)

During the start of the lockdown in March 2020, to ensure social distancing and prevent mass gatherings in the Philippines, many cities around Metro Manila and the rest of the Philippines implemented liquor bans. Restaurants, bars, groceries and convenience stores, and online liquor delivery services were prohibited from selling any type of alcoholic beverage to those areas. Now that many areas have been downgraded to “General Community Quarantine” most cities have been allowed to sell and distribute alcoholic beverages again.

Liquor Ban Season 2 – March to May 2021

Quezon City, San Juan, and Pateros lifted their liquor bans in the first week of May 2021. Mandaluyong and Muntinlupa also lifted their liquor bans this week.

No liquor bans reinstated during second ECQ

Manila, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Marikina, Pasay, Pasig, Taguig

Cities where liquor bans have been lifted

  • Quezon City (from March 15 to 31, 2021 & extended to Aril 30) – LIFTED on May 1, 2021
  • San Juan (starting March 15, 2021) – LIFTED on May 1, 2021
  • Pateros (from March 13 to 31, 2021) – LIFTED on May 1, 2021
  • Mandaluyong (from March 15 to 31, 2021) – LIFTED on May 6, 2021
  • Muntinlupa (from March 15 to April 4, 2021) – LIFTED on May 6, 2021 but sale of liquor can only be done from 10 am to 3 pm.

No confirmation yet

  • Parañaque (from March 15 to 31, 2021)
  • Malabon (from March 15 to April 3, 2021)
  • Valenzuela (from March 16 to April 1, 2021 = EXTENDED indefinitely)
  • Navotas (starting March 17, 2021 onwards)

What are the penalties?

Different areas impose different penalties to those who violate the liquor ban. Business establishments may be suspended of their business permits or face forced closures while individuals may be fined anywhere from P2,500 to P5,000 for violating the liquor ban.

Source: PhilStar.com. March 15, 2021

Liquor Bans in 2020

The section below refers to the Liquor Bans which took effect in 202o.

Some cities reimposed liquor bans in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces when these reverted back to the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) from August 4 to 18, 2020. According to Malacanang, it’s up to the different LGUs to pass ordinances on the liquor ban. I’ll try to update this list of guidelines and restrictions from each LGU as new ordinances come in.

Quezon City

  • As of August 19, 2020, the liquor ban has been lifted in line with the GCQ, but specific hours have been set for buying and selling liquor (Source)
  • Under the updated GCQ guidelines, licensed liquor dealers are only allowed to sell alcoholic beverages from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Restaurants, hotels, and other commercial establishments are now allowed to accept dine-in customers, with a maximum of two alcoholic drinks from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. These may only be consumed with meals while inside the premises of the establishment.
  • Drinking in public places remains prohibited.
  • The city government discourages friends and relatives from different households from engaging in drinking sessions to curb the transmission of COVID-19.
  • Liquor ban reimposed from August 4 until August 18, or the period when Metro Manila will be placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ). (Source)
  • Liquor ban originally lifted on May 16, 2020
  • Consumption of liquor only allowed in private homes
  • Drinking in public places is still prohibited
  • Selling of alcohol only allowed from 1 pm to 5 pm
  • There’s a limit on how many bottles or boxes a person can buy from a high-volume retailer or low-volume retailer per day.

San Juan City

  • Even with the transition to the GCQ, the liquor ban remains until August 31 and stricter curfew hours have been enforced in the city (Source)
  • Total liquor ban reinstated and in effect for the duration of the MECQ from Aug. 4 to Aug. 18. From the previous curfew of 10 p.m., the mayor announced that the new curfew hours are 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day. (Source)
  • The liquor ban will be in effect for the duration of the MECQ.
  • Liquor ban lifted on May 18, 2020
  • Consumption of liquor only allowed in private homes
  • Drinking in public places is still prohibited
  • Physical distancing must be observed while drinking

Navotas

  • The liquor ban has been extended as per City Ordinance No. 2020-24 (Source)
  • Buying or selling of alcoholic drinks remains prohibited while there is a prevailing community quarantine
  • Individual violators will be given a P1,000 fine or 1-day imprisonment for the first offense; P3,000 fine or 5-day imprisonment for the second offense; and P5,000 fine or 10-day imprisonment for the third offense
  • Establishments violating the said ordinance may also lose their business permit and face closure

Valenzuela

  • No lifting of liquor ban even under GCQ according to Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian (Source)

Caloocan (partial)

  • Liquor ban has been partially lifted as of May 16, 2020
  • Consumption of liquor only allowed in private homes
  • Drinking in public places is still prohibited
  • Selling of liquor is only allowed from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm daily
  • Penalties for violators: P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for the second offense, and P1,500 for the third offense.
  • There’s a limit on how many bottles one can buy depending on type of liquor.
Source: City Ordinance No. 0869

Parañaque

  • Liquor ban lifted on June 1, 2020 (Source)
  • Consumption of liquor only allowed in private homes
  • Drinking in public places is still prohibited
  • Physical distancing must be observed while drinking

Malabon

  • Liquor ban lifted on June 2, 2020 (Source)
  • Selling of alcoholic beverages shall only be allowed within the operating hours of the establishment
  • Restaurants, bars, and other similar establishments are still prohibited to serve liquor in their establishments
  • Drinking outside the premises of [one’s] house, including public places is prohibited
  • Drinking during any mass gathering is prohibited
  • Being intoxicated in public is prohibited

via GIPHY

Manila

  • Liquor ban lifted on June 8, 2020 (Source)
  • Selling alcoholic drinks and beverages to minors and drinking in public places remains prohibited.

Muntinlupa

  • Drinking of liquor and other alcoholic beverages is now allowed during GCQ. Only limited quantities may be consumed (two bottles of beer, two glasses of hard drinks, or two glasses of wine and whiskey) in restaurants, resto-bars and other commercial establishments allowed by the IATF and other agencies (Source). 
  • Liquor ban reimposed during MECQ
  • Liquor ban lifted on June 1, 2020 (Source)
  • Consumption of liquor only allowed in private homes
  • Drinking in public places is still prohibited
  • Physical distancing must be observed while drinking

Pasig

  • Liquor ban lifted on May 26, 2020
  • Consumption of liquor only allowed in private homes
  • Drinking in public places is still prohibited
  • Physical distancing must be observed while drinking

Las Piñas

  • Liquor ban lifted on May 20, 2020
  • Consumption of liquor only allowed in private homes
  • Drinking in public places is still prohibited
  • Physical distancing must be observed while drinking
  • Only distributors, wholesalers, grocery stores, sari-sari stores, and convenience stores are allowed to sell alcoholic beverages

Mandaluyong City

  • Liquor ban lifted on May 19, 2020
  • Consumption of liquor only allowed in private homes
  • Drinking in public places is still prohibited
  • Physical distancing must be observed while drinking

Marikina

  • Liquor ban lifted on May 16, 2020
  • Consumption of liquor only allowed in private homes
  • Drinking in public places is still prohibited
  • Physical distancing must be observed while drinking

Pasay

  • Liquor ban lifted on May 14, 2020
  • Consumption of liquor only allowed in private homes
  • Drinking in public places is still prohibited
  • Physical distancing must be observed while drinking

Makati

  • Makati City Council Ordinance No. 2020-152 banned the drinking of liquor of any person outside of the residence or other public places in the city effective July 14, 2020. (Source)
  • Consumption of liquor only allowed in private homes

Taguig

  • No liquor ban imposed
  • Consumption of liquor only allowed in private homes
  • Drinking in public places is still prohibited

via GIPHY

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