Bogotá Advances Dry Law for Presidential Elections, Commerce Protests Losses

Bogotá's city government has moved up the start of its 'ley seca,' or dry law, to Friday evening, a full day before the national restriction takes effect for Colombia's presidential elections. This decision has sparked protests from business owners in the capital who argue the early ban will severely impact their operations during a crucial weekend.

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guarantee a transparent, secure, and peaceful democratic exercise

The decree sets the ban in Bogotá to begin at 6:00 PM local time on Friday, while the nationwide prohibition starts Saturday at the same hour. Both restrictions are scheduled to end on Monday, June 1, at noon. The city administration stated the early implementation aims to "guarantee a transparent, secure, and peaceful democratic exercise."

However, owners of bars, clubs, and entertainment venues in Bogotá are strongly opposing the measure. The Colombian Association of Bars and Restaurants (Asobares) issued a statement calling the early dry law a "handbrake" on commerce during the election weekend. Businesses had already organized events like private parties, birthdays, and weddings, assuming the ban would start on Saturday as initially planned.

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handbrake on commerce during the weekend of elections, especially this Friday.

Asobares contends that such restrictions are "obsolete measures applied to a modern service economy that today sustains thousands of families." The association estimates that approximately 100,000 direct and indirect jobs could be affected. They also argue that the 66-hour prohibition "does not eliminate demand (for alcohol) but rather transfers consumption to informality and the black market, generating a devastating and asymmetric economic impact on the capital's business fabric."

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We consider that maintaining restrictions of this type is applying obsolete measures to a modern service economy that today sustains thousands of families.

César Restrepo, Bogotá's Secretary of Security, defended the decision, emphasizing the need for increased control during the presidential elections to ensure the safety of the capital's 18,156 voting stations. Non-compliance with the dry law will result in fines as stipulated by the National Code of Security and Citizen Coexistence.

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the imposition of 66 hours of prohibition does not eliminate the demand (for alcohol), but rather transfers consumption to informality and the black market, generating a devastating and asymmetric economic impact on the capital's business fabric.