Alcoholic beverage makers have appealed to the trade department to work on the lifting of liquor bans nationwide, arguing that they are legitimate business that should be allowed “freedom of trade.”
In a letter to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, dated April 16, Gerardo Tan Tee, chairman of Absolut Distillers Inc and the Center for Alcoholic Research and Development (CARD) Foundation, said the industry was in “agony” amid declining market demand.
If the government wanted to prevent intoxication during the enhanced community quarantine, Tee said there could be restrictions on the time alcohol is sold.
“The state of intoxication… is caused only when alcohol consumption is considered abusive,” Tee said. “The threat of alcohol intoxication of the public is already addressed by the quarantine policy of making the people stay at home.”
CARD Foundation is composed of executives of the Lucio Tan-led Absolut Distillers, Emperador Distillers, Ginebra San Miguel Inc., Far East Alcohol Corp. and Asian Alcohol Corp.
Tee warned that a nationwide ban would result in the proliferation of bootleggers.
“It bears stressing…that the sale of our alcoholic beverages is not an illegal undertaking, not deserving of the prohibition and total ban imposed by the government,” he said.
“Allow us a means to survive amidst the already difficult situation we are in,” he added. (PressONE.ph)