In response to concerns raised by the community about a bill proposing to let restaurants sell takeout orders of alcoholic beverages, Senator Joe S. San Agustin says it’s not much different than what retail stores are already doing.
Bill 384-35 proposes to include sealed alcoholic beverages as a takeout option along with to-go food orders.
Senator San Agustin told K57’s Patti Arroyo that residents have reached out to him expressing their concerns about people buying these drinks and consuming them in their cars.
Bill 384 states that participating businesses would have to post prominent guidelines detailing how to transport alcoholic beverages and that they cannot be stored in places that are easily accessible to a vehicle’s occupants.
“All we did on the amendment on that bill is adjust what you can do today. We put it on the restaurants. If you can go to any retail store, you can buy liquor. Everybody’s like, “Boy, they’ll open up the beer when they go into the car.” You can do that today when you go to Cost U Less to buy beer!” San Agustin said.
If the bill becomes law, an on-sale licensee could sell or serve alcoholic beverages at 7 am instead of 8 am. The Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association and the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce have asked the governor to support the sale of prepackaged alcoholic beverages as a way to boost revenue for businesses during the pandemic.
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