LAWS REGARDING SELLING AND CONSUMPTION

OF ALCOHOL IN THE PHILIPPINES

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1619
PENALIZING THE USE OR POSSESSION OR THE UNAUTHORIZED SALE TO MINORS
OF VOLATILE SUBSTANCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF INDUCING INTOXICATION OR
IN ANY MANNER CHANGING, DISTORTING OR DISTURBING THE AUDITORY,
VISUAL OR MENTAL PROCESS
WHEREAS, reports from law enforcement agencies reveal that certain substances which are
openly sold to the public are being availed of by drug dependents as substitutes for dangerous
drugs;
WHEREAS, medical research and studies show that the use of such substitutes could cause
death, physiological damage to the liver, kidneys, heart, blood and nervous system, induce
dependency, self-destructive and anti-social acts while under the influence thereof, and lead to
the use of other drugs;
WHEREAS, it is imperative to stop the use of such substances as substitutes for dangerous
drugs.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order
as follows:
Section 1. Volatile substances as used in this Decree shall mean and include any liquid, solid or
mixed substance having the property of releasing toxic vapors or fumes containing one or more
of the following chemical compounds: methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, ethyl acetate, n-propyl
acetate, n-butyl acetate, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl butyl ketone, benzene, toluene,
xylene, stryene, naphtalene, n-pentane, n-hexane, n-heptane, methylene chloride,
trichloroenthylene, tetrachloroenthylene, nitrous oxide, dichlorodifluoromethane,
chlorodifluoromethane, isoamyl nitrate, ether or chloroform or any other chemical substance
which when sniffed, smelled, inhaled, or introduced into the physiological system of the body
produces or induces a condition of intoxication, inebriation, excitement, stupefaction, dulling of
the brain or nervous system, depression, giddiness, paralysis, or irrational behaviour or in any
manner changing, distorting or disturbing the auditory, visual or mental processes.
Sec. 2. The use or possession of volatile substances for the purpose of inhalation to induce or
produce intoxication or any of the conditions described in the preceding section shall be
punishable by imprisonment ranging from six months and one day to four years and a fine
ranging from six hundred to four thousand, pesos: Provided, however, That the provisions of
Article VI, entitled "Rehabilitative Confinement and Suspension of Sentence", of Republic Act
No. 6425, as amended (otherwise known as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972), shall, whenever
appropriate, apply to the cases arising hereunder.
Sec. 3. The penalty of imprisonment ranging from four years and one day to eight years and a
fine ranging from four thousand to eight thousand pesos shall be imposed upon any person who
sells, administers, delivers, or gives away to another, on any terms whatsoever, or distributes,
dispatches in transit or transports or who acts as a broker in any of such transactions, any
substance or mixture of substances containing one or more of the chemical compounds
mentioned in Section one hereof for the purpose of inhalation to induce or produce intoxication
or any of the conditions described therein.
Sec. 4. The penalty of imprisonment ranging from four years and one month to eight years and a
fine ranging from four thousand to eight thousand pesos shall be imposed upon any person, or
group of persons who shall maintain a den, dive or resort where any substance or mixture of
substances containing one or more of the chemical compounds mentioned in Section one hereof
is used for the purpose of inhalation to induce or produce intoxication or any of the conditions
described therein.
Sec. 5. The sale of, and offer to sell, volatile substances to minors without requiring the written
consent of their parents or guardians as a condition for such sale or offer to sell shall be
punishable by imprisonment ranging from six months and one day to four years and a fine
ranging from six hundred to four thousand pesos: Provided, That when the minor is eighteen
years or over and is duly licensed to drive a motor vehicle, such written consent shall not be
necessary when the volatile substance sold or offered for sale is gasoline or any other motive fuel
for motor vehicles.
Sec. 6. The sale of, and offer to sell, to minors of liquors or beverages containing an alcoholic
content of thirty per centum or above (60 proof or above) is hereby prohibited and shall be
punishable by imprisonment ranging from six months and one day to four years and a fine
ranging from six hundred to four thousand pesos.
Sec. 7. The Dangerous Drugs Board is hereby empowered to issue rules and regulations to carry
out the purposes of this decree, including the treatment and rehabilitation of dependents on
volatile substances and their confinement in rehabilitation or commercial products containing
one or more of the chemical compounds mentioned in Section one hereof, and the publication,
whenever the need arises, in a newspaper of general circulation, a list of the mentioned industrial
or commercial products the sale of which is restricted or prohibited under the preceding sections.
Sec. 8. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 23rd day of July, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen
hundred and seventy-nine.
 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11467
Republic Act No. 11467 increased the excise tax imposed on alcohol products effective
on January 1, 2020. The ad valorem tax on distilled spirits is 22 percent of the net retail price,
and the specific tax is P42.00 per proof liter. For all types of wines, the excise tax is P50.00 per
liter. For other fermented liquor including beer, the excise tax is P35.00 per liter. There is a
structure for increasing excise taxes each year and the law does not include a sunset provision.
The United States is a top three supplier of alcohol products to the Philippines with a nine
percent market share. Despite the increase in excise taxes, traders expect sales to continue
growing five to ten percent each year due to robust demand.

IN MANILA
Executive Order No. 17 mandates the Bureau of Permits and License Office (BPLO), City
Treasurer’s Office as well as business establishments to strictly observe these ordinances:

ORDINANCE NO. 3532 prohibits the sale of intoxicating liquor in establishments

located within 200 meters of school.

ORDINANCE NO. 8520 prohibits the sale of liquor or any alcoholic beverage to minors
in any store, mall, bar, restaurant, eatery or any commercial establishment in Manila.
The executive order was signed by Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Thursday, July 25,
2019. The order stated that violators would be subjected to administrative and criminal charges,
fines, and revocation of permits and licenses issued by the local government.

ORDINANCE NO. 5555

PROHIBITION AGAINST SERVING OF BEER, LIQUOR, OR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
OF ANY KIND IN CERTAIN PLACES
Section 2. The drinking of beer, liquor, or alcoholic beverages of any kind in sari-sari stores or
similar establishments not licensed as restaurant, panciteria, carinderia, hotel or bar, as well as in
the street by the sidewalk, in an alley, whether public or private and in a park or in a plaza, is
hereby prohibited.
The mayor ordered Bureau of Permits Director Levi Facundo and Manila Police District Deputy
District Director Col. Narciso Domingo to go around to catch establishments that do not comply
with Ordinance No. 5555. He said he will order the cancellation of the permits of these
establishments if they violate the city ordinance amid the COVID-19 pandemic and asked the
police to enforce the law strictly.
REFERENCES
https://www.chanrobles.com/presidentialdecrees/presidentialdecreeno1619.html?
fbclid=IwAR2MUrY99nksNZn-LTIyWSs359IiTjeMi-x96-F-5ngz5-
5MwDkEC7IvEp0#.YR3f344zY2z
https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/philippines-new-excise-tax-structure-alcohol-products-0?
fbclid=IwAR1OA1ZsVu6iwVc4PlSrhIuVx7l8VTPcm-h7Q2ckYtfviRXdWTwt85olxjc
https://mb.com.ph/2019/07/25/domagoso-orders-strict-implementation-of-liquor-ordinance/?
fbclid=IwAR2Z0dUbrQtZyfTk9XpK_3dWRgwx17Bp2VyKoH5YPtjzXZ67h67rmuc5tAA
https://manilastandard.net/lgu/ncr/340387/isko-no-to-drinking-in-public.html
https://www.facebook.com/ManilaPIO/posts/tagay-pa-more-hehe-warning-ordinance-no-5555-
prohibits-drinking-in-public-places/695864317564927/