Will Businesses Be Restricted to Sell Liquor on Christmas Day?

The police will issue an advisory on Wednesday on whether businesses will be restricted from selling liquor on Christmas Day. It follows a release from the Placencia Tourism Centre which informed its members that businesses in that community that hold a hotel liquor license or restaurant liquor license will be allowed to open as normal on Christmas Day to their guests and patrons, and that it must be served with a meal. The notice then goes on to inform all other licensed establishments that they must be closed on Christmas Day. Then another concerned party from Placencia, Shane Kenny, sent an email to us expressing his opinion that the Commissioner of Police is misusing his powers. The individual quotes from the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act, which states that all licensed premises in which liquor is sold under a publican’s general license shall be closed on Christmas Day. Kenny shares his view that Williams has unilaterally decided that all businesses that possess a liquor license other than hotel or restaurant must be closed on Christmas Day. These include supermarkets or shops that sell cider and malt liquor, which is beer and wine. Kenny writes in his letter, (quote): Compol Williams’ actions today add a further nine license types to the list that he is requiring to be closed on Christmas Day.  This is a blatant misuse of police powers where law is being created, not simply enforced as is the mandate of the police force,” (unquote).