Let There Be Beer!
Come Semana Santa and during presidential elections every four years, Costa Rica becomes dry. Not a drop of liquor can be sold in supermarkets, liquor stores, bars and restaurants. However, that may all change if Legislative Deputies approve a new initiate presented by Ricardo Toledo, which will eliminate the "Ley Seca".

During Semana Santa (Easter Week), the Ley Seca prohibits the sale of liquor on Thursday and Fridays. bars have to shut down from beginning 12:01am on Thursday and re-open the following Saturday morning. Restaurants cannot serve a glass of wine with a meal, as the liquor cabinet is sealed by police, as well as supermarkets who cordon off the shelves containing spirits, beer and wine.

This year the Ley Seca applies to April 13 and April 14.

During the presidential election last month, the Ley Seca applied to the day before the election, election day and the day following the election. Many visitors to Costa Rica were dumb founded when bars in tourist areas were closed and no beer or wine with a meal could be served at restaurants.

Many called the law archaic, including the Cámara de Turismo and the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) which says it greatly affects the tourism sector, especially for those operators of all-inclusive packages.

Asked about the Catholic church's position on the initiative, Toledo said that this is not a religious issue and the church should not meddle in non religious matters.

"With all respect the clergy has nothing to do with this, they should dedicate themselves to things of God, referring to a phrase where what is God is Gods and what is Caesar's is Caesars", where the words of Toledo.

Toledo, who was Minister for the Presidency in the current government until he resigned last year to run in the presidential elections on February 5, is still a Legislative Deputy in the current Legislative session.

The initiative changes Ley 7633 which regulates the hours of the sale of liquor and closes businesses during the prohibition periods.

The initiative is expected to pass easily during the current Legislative session which ends on April 30.