Carora liquor sector challenges municipal ordinance limiting hours and raising taxes

The Association of Merchants and Industrialists of Torres (ACIT), along with representatives from the liquor sector in Carora, Venezuela, has formally submitted a review request to the Municipal Institute of Urban and Domestic Cleaning (INSEMAT). They are demanding an end to what they describe as violations of economic and scheduling regulations, arguing that the municipal ordinance, enacted in 2024, contravenes national laws.

Specifically, the merchants contest the restrictions on Sunday operating hours, asserting that these limitations place them at a significant competitive disadvantage compared to establishments in other municipalities within the Lara state that do not face similar curbs. This temporal limitation, coupled with recurring power outages and prolonged energy rationing, has drastically reduced sales, according to the affected businesses.

The group argues that these combined pressures compromise their financial viability, making it difficult to meet tax obligations and maintain basic operations. They are calling for an immediate reduction in the tax rate applied to the liquor sector, contending that the current tax burden is not aligned with the local economic reality and jeopardizes the sustainability of businesses in the municipality.

ACIT emphasized that this initiative aims to find concrete solutions within the framework of the rule of law. They seek to support the operational capacity of merchants and foster the reactivation and stability of economic and commercial development in the Torres municipality.