Interior and Police Minister Franklin Almeyda said that the measures to close bars, discotheques and colmadones were taken after a two-year research project showed that most violence occurs around night spots and activities where there is drinking, due to problems between friends or traffic accidents. He explained that the sale of alcohol after midnight have a significant correlation to the increase in violence, although not necessarily to crime. He said that the decision to close these drinking centers at midnight Sunday to Thursday, and at 2am on Fridays and Saturdays is directed at reducing violence, while the patrols seek to reduce crime. He said that the measures have proven their worth in the first week, with a significant decline in violence. He said this is reflected by the considerable reduction in admissions to hospital emergency departments.
He responded to complaints from the Presidente beer producers who said that no study had ever shown that drinking was behind the current increase in crime.

More...