• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bacolod City Legal Office and the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) have been asked Dec. 13 to strictly enforce the ban on the selling of liquor to minors, following the reported harassment of an underage girl by four college students recently.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the resolution authored by Councilor Em Ang, who stressed the “importance of maintaining a safe and secure environment for minors and believes that the strict enforcement of City Ordinance 1251, as amended, by CO 450, is crucial to achieving this goal”.
Ang took note of several reports and concerns raised by parents regarding establishments that are allegedly serving alcoholic beverages to minors, particularly those located in close proximity to schools and universities.
A video also trended on social media last week of an underage girl seen “being drugged and sexually harassed by four college students at a certain bar and restaurant in close proximity to a school in Barangay 7”, she added.
Aside from the fact that there are negative effects on the health and wellbeing of children who consume alcoholic drinks, it can also lead to academic problems and risky sexual activity, hence the need to strictly enforce the ordinance prohibiting the sale of liquor to person/s below 18 years of age, the SP said.
Under the ordinance, the business permit of an establishment found serving intoxicants to minors shall be suspended for one month, or the owner or manager imprisoned for three months and/or fined P500, or both at the discretion of the court, for first offense.
A second offense shall lead to the revocation of the business permit and imprisonment of six months, or to pay a fine of P1,000 or both, the ordinance states. | CGC
