Leonel promises to extend bar closing times

[Gutter Meat]

In a recent meeting with Lorenzo Sancassani, the President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández, promised that he would soon announce a decision concerning extending the closing times for bars and discos in Sosúa and Cabarete. Sancassani spoke to the President in his capacity as spokesperson for the hotels in Cabarete and Sosúa. After Easter the President promised to invite representatives from companies in both coastal towns to his palace in Santo Domingo, for further meetings to discuss this sensitive issue. Other dignitaries to be invited to the meeting include the Secretary of Internal Affairs and Police (dr. Franlyn Almeyde) and Mr Félix Jiménez from the Department of Tourism. The spokesperson for the enterprises in Sosúa and Cabarete, Lorenzo Sancassani, spoke of his delight at this successful meeting with the President. As he said: 'the tourist areas have considerable problems (turnover down by 30%) due to these strict closing times.
Lorenzo Sancassani
We hope to reach an agreement soon, so that business improves back to normal.'

Source: El Faro

[SJG]

He met with Lorenzo from the New Garden?

[Gutter Meat]

It's about time!!!! If anything closing towns early would actually have an increase in crime effect rather than decrease which is what they were trying to accomplish. By clossing down establishments at 1am compared to 6am thats 5 hours that workers are now unemployed.( 5 hours a day x 7 days a week = 35 less working hours a week) Everyone knows there is a direct corelation between unemployment and crime increases. Look at any major city with high unemployment rate and you will see that city also has hi crime rates partially robbery.

[SJG]

I hope Lorenzo din't promise Leonel a reservation in return for keeping the bars open later....

[Gutter Meat]

March 19th article
Representatives from the hotel industry complain about closing times


Representatives from the large hotel chains in Samaná, dr. Pedro Catrain, and Mr Armando Casciati (from Sosúa) hope to organise a meeting with the government to discuss the closing times for bars/restaurants.
These closing times (valid for all premises where alcoholic beverages are sold) have resulted in a 30% drop in turnover. Bars in Samaná must close at midnight on weekdays, although those in Sosúa may stay open until 1am. On Friday and Saturday nights they remain open until 2am.
Even the beer brewers and rum manufacturers are reporting 30% drops in turnover for January and February. They attribute this to the higher sales tax (ITBIS), which has resulted in considerably higher beer prices.
The representatives feel that these measures give the Dominican Republic a bad image, as an expensive holiday destination. If the closing times were extended to 2am on weekdays and 4am at weekends, this would be a real improvement.

[guttaman]

Honestly, i like it the way it is.

[SJG]

Honestly, i like it the way it is.

I agree. The earlier closing times and polcia patrols really keep the chicas on their toes and aid in negotiation. It's very simple to stock your hotel room or condo with all the beer and booze you need and just move the party back to your own place. We had many nights of drinking by the pool at the Garden after closing time.

[Gutter Meat]

I don't think it's going back to the days of 6am every night. They are just gonna re-adjust the times. 2am weekdays & 4am weekends is not at all unreasonable.

[SJG]

A lot of the bars report loosing money. It is probably a combination of a dip in US tourism combined with the earlier closing times and increase in alcahol tax. Being open a few more hours may ease some of these bars owner's pain.

[kiddfrost]

SJG... I agree totally...

Extending hours would just make it harder to get a chica to drop her prices when I'm ready to go... I understand why they wish to do it for money increase. But what about the mongers man? We want the hours to stay the same... Shorter time at the club equals cheaper chocha & longer over nights to play fuck fuck games...

[weyland]

He met with Lorenzo from the New Garden?

No, Lorenzo was busy, so he talked to the night guard. As a successful politician he was able to give the night guard some useful tips on scams and extracting pesos from gringos.

[Gutter Meat]

Can somebody start a pole (not sure how to do it) either in favor or not in favor of extended bar hours.

[guttaman]

Can somebody start a pole (not sure how to do it) either in favor or not in favor of extended bar hours.

Look just above your 1st post on the right. Thread Tools. Then Add A Pole.

[Apos]

...or even a poll

[guttaman]

Fuck you i'm drinking

[kiddfrost]

drink some for me... I would like a Rum & Coke

[guttaman]

Sorry, Kahula White Russians with Dutch Chocolate Vodka. The rum and cokes will come in the A.M. to kill the hangover. You in a dry country Kidd?

[MegaSquirt]

I got this feeling that the President will do better than that. For awhile now I've been seeing this vision where Sosua/Cabarete will become a 24hrs party zone. This explains why they want to add night lights in Sosua. They have to think bigger in order to recover the losses they already made this year.

PS-Long before this curfew was put into place I was able to stay out all night and come home when the sun is coming up. Sunrise in DR is magnificent !!

[Hemp]

SJG... I agree totally...

Extending hours would just make it harder to get a chica to drop her prices when I'm ready to go... I understand why they wish to do it for money increase. But what about the mongers man? We want the hours to stay the same... Shorter time at the club equals cheaper chocha & longer over nights to play fuck fuck games...

i dont see what the big deal is with the closing times...whats the difference between leaving the club at 2 as opposed to 4??? not a big difference. i find it is much more monger friendly for the clubs to close earlier.

[moshy2k]

I would like them stay open a little later especially when you wanna hit multiple spots during a weeknight.