2022News

Party away! Government says businesses can sell alcohol until 3am

Restaurants and bars all around the country can now remain open on weekends until 3am. Minister of Tourism David Collado made the announcement. Businesses in Punta Cana had been pressing for the announcement that came in time to start the Easter Week holiday. Easter Week is officially a religious holiday, but it is also unofficially party time in the Dominican Republic.

Nevertheless, the Minister of Tourism said that on Good Friday, the sale of alcohol is banned nationwide.

“With Minister of Interior and Police Jesús Vásquez, we announce that as of today [11 April 2022] the hours for the sale of alcoholic beverages are extended, in the country’s nighttime entertainment centers, from Sundays to Thursdays until 2am and on Fridays and Saturdays, until 3am,” Collado announced through his Twitter account.

Collado pointed out that from now on the new hours for bars, restaurants, discotheques, clubs, event centers, piano bars and casinos, will be from Sundays to Thursdays until 2am the following day, and on Fridays and Saturdays, until 3am the following day.

All-inclusive resorts are not included in this provision because they are authorized to set their own schedules earlier. That is, they can serve alcoholic beverages 24/7.

Speaking at a press conference at the Interior and Police headquarters, Collado explained that in the case of colmados, colmadones, cafeterias, car washes, mechanic parks, water parks and liquor stores, these are authorized to remain open until 12 midnight.

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12 April 2022