New Liquor Curfew Ordinance

[Ricardo900]

This may turn out to be a good thing,
I for one, like to start my partying and drinking earlier than midnight, that is why I like going to Ahi Bar because they get a nice crowd a little after sunset, I've been to francifol and other spots early and I am pretty much drinking alone till mid-night, it'll be nice to enjoy some of these places earlier in the night.

 

[Hillbilly]

I stopped by Supermercado Central, the only 24/7 establishment close by, and they told me that at 12 they stop selling beer and liquor. They do not close. There are cops there to check on this.
I forgot to ask if the late shift at the casinos, that nornally eat DINNER there at 5 or 6 in the morning, are served their beers...Hafta do that later.

The famous Carrito de Marchena, another 24/7 spot in Santiago took all of their alcoholic beverages down and do not serve any at any time. they say that they are a food place, not a drinking place. And their food is good!! .

So, it seems that the CASINOS are under seige, too. The Casino association just published a half page announcement that they are exempt from the decree. Too much money there to play around with these guys...we'll see what happens...

HB

 

[bigbird]

I forgot to ask if the late shift at the casinos, that nornally eat DINNER there at 5 or 6 in the morning, are served their beers...Hafta do that later.

That is a good question. What time can alcoholic beverages be served after the midnight shutdown.

 

[Frank the Tank]

I would think the ultimate solution to this problem is just some common sense adjustments to the new law. Perhaps what they should do is stop alcohol sales at colmados, colamadones and stores say at like 11 and let the bars stay open until 2 during the week and 4 on the weekends. I would imagine that most of the crime/trouble comes from the tigueres and ladrones that hang out and drink at the colmados all day and all night. I know here where I live liquor stores close at 10 and bars remain open until anywhere from 2 to 4 am.

 

[snowqueen]

It's interesting that (it seems to me at least) the posters here who are living in the DR and dealing with the new rules don't mind them much, if at all, and all the vociferous complaints are coming from tourists who may be trapped in a mindset of thinking that the only time to party is from midnight til dawn. The fact is, we haven't had much of a choice til now because nothing was happening at the night spots til 12 or so (sometimes later). Now that they are opening earlier, I think even some of the hard-core party animals may find (once they give it a try) that they can get in about the same amount of fun and alcohol from 8-12 as they can from 12-4.

I agree & it surprises me that people pay so much money on a vacation to party in clubs that could be almost anywhere. Ok, the music may be different. I would love for clubs to start things earlier so some of us could enjoy ourselves without losing the entire next day trying to recover from lack of sleep. I choose to enjoy the outdoors in DR over the clubs, but may now have an opportunity to do both.

 

[Chirimoya]

The UK used to have very strict closing times, especially for pubs - 10:30pm on weekdays and 11:00pm on weekends. It was generally accepted that having a rigid, set closing time was counterproductive, because people would drink against the clock and the streets would be full of drunk, frustrated and violent people all at the same time when the pubs chucked them out. This led to the laws being relaxed, although it does not appear to have made things any better.

Even if it were the solution, I find it difficult to believe the police statements claiming a 98% reduction in crime.

 

[Stodgord]

The reduction in crimes, if any, proves that the police were the one committing them. Busy at night enforcing the curfew and too tired in the daytime to commit crimes. By the way weren't most horrendous crimes committed during broad daylight before the curfew?

 

[qgrande]

The UK used to have very strict closing times, especially for pubs - 10:30pm on weekdays and 11:00pm on weekends. It was generally accepted that having a rigid, set closing time was counterproductive, because people would drink against the clock and the streets would be full of drunk, frustrated and violent people all at the same time when the pubs chucked them out. This led to the laws being relaxed, although it does not appear to have made things any better.

Even if it were the solution, I find it difficult to believe the police statements claiming a 98% reduction in crime.

I think these new relaxation laws need a bit of time to take effect. The average British pub-visitor is still used to drink as much and fast as possible. It will take lots of time to loose that habit passed over from generation to generation . Maybe in a similar way it will take some time for these new laws in the DR to cause British style binge drinking among Dominicans......

 

[Mirador]

A few nights ago, a TV program hosted by the trio of economists, Andy Dauhajre, Aristy Escuder, and Wildredo Alemany, very aptly called "Toque de Queda", presented a very interesting set of statistics, in the form of charts that correlated the amount of alcohol consumed to the number of homicides, per 100.000 population, for each country in the world. Surprisingly, the DR is below average in consumtion of alcohol in Latin America, not to say worldwide. But the greatest surprise is that the statistics show that alcohol consumption has no correlation to homicides (an important crime marker), and indicates that there could be an inverse relationship, that is, more drinking, less homicides...

 

[Chirimoya]

I think these new relaxation laws need a bit of time to take effect. The average British pub-visitor is still used to drink as much and fast as possible. It will take lots of time to loose that habit passed over from generation to generation . Maybe in a similar way it will take some time for these new laws in the DR to cause British style binge drinking among Dominicans......

Yes, it's a lot to do with the drinking culture. Comparisons are often made with the Mediterranean drinking culture where it's not a big deal, so people don't drink themselves senseless. It's also the national character - so many Brits are too inhibited to interact socially without a few drinks under their belts!

A few nights ago, a TV program hosted by the trio of economists, Andy Dauhajre, Aristy Escuder, and Wildredo Alemany, very aptly called "Toque de Queda", presented a very interesting set of statistics, in the form of charts that correlated the amount of alcohol consumed to the number of homicides, per 100.000 population, for each country in the world. Surprisingly, the DR is below average in consumtion of alcohol in Latin America, not to say worldwide. But the greatest surprise is that the statistics show that alcohol consumption has no correlation to homicides (an important crime marker), and indicates that there could be an inverse relationship, that is, more drinking, less homicides...

This is interesting, and combined with the point that not all crimes are committed by drinkers anyway, how can the crime rate decline so dramatically just like that?

The reduction in crimes, if any, proves that the police were the one committing them. Busy at night enforcing the curfew and too tired in the daytime to commit crimes. By the way weren't most horrendous crimes committed during broad daylight before the curfew?

I think we have our answer!

 

[Hipocrito Mejia]

Actually, the answer is that this number is a phantom figure pulled out of the air. How can anyone believe the accuracy of these figures in a country where police reports and crime statistics are kept on anything from an old notebook to bubble gum wrappers.

 

[A.Hidalgo]

I guess it depends on the individual, I think its a shame that everywhere has to close I never go out til around 10.30-11, but it wont stop me coming back because I love the place.

I agree. Tourist will adapt. Although most of us have issues with the way the government is tackling the crime problem, this should not stop tourist from coming to DR.

So tourist come, to those who have been here before come back again. There is more to this beautiful island than a few hour curfew.

 

[Mirador]

I agree. Tourist will adapt. Although most of us have issues with the way the government is tackling the crime problem, this should not stop tourist from coming to DR.

So tourist come, to those who have been here before come back again. There is more to this beautiful island than a few hour curfew.

Tourism in the Caribbean is a very competitive market, most spots have basically the same to offer, at practically the same price. The existence of a curfew in the DR vis-a-vis other locations could give a competitive edge to other spots that do not have curfews. Even more now, considering that the announced outing of Fidel Castro as head of the Cuban government, could signal Cuba soon becoming a major tourist destination, taking away business from the DR....

 

[A.Hidalgo]

Tourism in the Caribbean is a very competitive market, most spots have basically the same to offer, at practically the same price. The existence of a curfew in the DR vis-a-vis other locations could give a competitive edge to other spots that do not have curfews. Even more now, considering that the announced outing of Fidel Castro as head of the Cuban government, could signal Cuba soon becoming a major tourist destination, taking away business from the DR....

I am sure that there are many other tourist like Nickijay who have come before and fell in love with the island, and are willing to come back. There is a reason why the thread here. They like the place very much and will promote it to others.

 

[GKC]

Not so fast there cowboy,

Tourism in the Caribbean is a very competitive market, most spots have basically the same to offer, at practically the same price. The existence of a curfew in the DR vis-a-vis other locations could give a competitive edge to other spots that do not have curfews. Even more now, considering that the announced outing of Fidel Castro as head of the Cuban government, could signal Cuba soon becoming a major tourist destination, taking away business from the DR....

Looks like Hugo Chavez may just assist Cuba in keep on keepin' on the path of Castro's Communist/Dictatorship plan for island livin'

http://www.listin.com.do/cuerpos/dinero/wallstreet/wall1.htm

 

[Malibook]

People will simply go out at 8pm to start the night not 11pm. The businesses will adapt and so will the clients.

Sounds good in theory and I hope you are right.

I'd rather get an earlier start to the night's festivities although I still say 12 is ridiculous.

Business owners should be happy they will simply get their money earlier and not have to work so late.

So why are so many business owners extremely p!ssed off?
Perhaps they fear reality may not reflect such wishful thinking.

 

[Rattus_Rattus]

If i should chose between different holiday destinations, and i knew that DR had this new law- then i would for sure gone somewhere else.
The reason is simple, you work and save some money every month maybe for a year, just to go on a dream vacation for 2-3 weeks- partying, dancing etc.

Then your told you have to go home to your hotel/apartment not later than midnight, and watch spanish soap operas for the rest of the evening/night.. No thank you.

But im quite sure this new law will change to the better with time, just wait until the tourists start to chose other holiday destinations.

 

[bigbird]

just wait until the tourists start to chose other holiday destinations.

I wouldn't be too sure about that. I bet for every tourist who won't go because of the change there is one who will go because of the silence at night.

In today's Dominican Today the Casinos don't seem to mind the change.

 

[Tor]

Many different opinions about how this will affect the tourism. Hopefully the curfew will be cancelled or moderated in a month or two, so we will never know.
My impression is that some already looking for other destinations, others are curious and want to come and see how this function with the cufew, but just once. Others again seems to not care so much.
I guess most of the people on DR1 that says that this isn't a problem, and that it's just to adjust to another timetable, maybe not have been so much out to party at night before ?
I'm in Europe for the moment but living most of the year in Sosua, I realy can't imagine Classico and Club X jumping 8 o'clock on a wednesday evening. It would be nice to get a report from the nightlife in Sosua midweek from somebody onsite.

 

[Rocky]

I wouldn't be too sure about that. I bet for every tourist who won't go because of the change there is one who will go because of the silence at night.

In today's Dominican Today the Casinos don't seem to mind the change.

There may even be 2 new tourists for every 1 lost.
Th DR being a safe Caribbean tourist destination is more important than the closing time of the local bars.