Faride Raful: Government will respect court ruling on alcohol sales restrictions

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic’s government will comply with the Constitutional Court’s decision declaring unconstitutional the decree regulating alcohol sales hours and will work with the National Congress to draft new legislation, Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful said this Wednesday.

In a statement on social media, Raful said the government respects the court’s ruling and will collaborate with lawmakers while consulting society to develop modern and effective regulations. She added that protecting public safety and peaceful coexistence will remain a government priority.

The Constitutional Court ruled that the 2006 decree regulating alcohol sales hours is unconstitutional because permanent restrictions of that nature must be established by law rather than by executive decree.

However, the court ordered that the measure remain in effect for two years to give the National Congress time to approve replacement legislation. The ruling followed a constitutional challenge filed by attorney Víctor Eddy Mateo Vásquez.

The current decree restricts alcohol sales after midnight Sunday through Thursday and after 2:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with penalties that include temporary or permanent closure of businesses that violate the rules.