Restrictions on the Hours of Sale of Alcoholic Beverages in Bogotá
Effectiveness

Mixed Evidence

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Mixed Evidence

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Life periods served
Country of application
Description

The restriction on the hours of sale of alcoholic beverages in Bogotá was implemented by means of a 2009 decree, which limited the sale of alcoholic beverages in stores between 11 PM and 10 AM in well-defined zones in 9 of Bogotá’s 20 districts.
The decree did not affect establishments where alcoholic drinks are sold for consumption on the premises (bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and discos).
The restricted areas were chosen based on a qualitative and quantitative crime analysis:
1) Areas with higher rates of homicide, bodily injury, and robbery;
2) Areas with an increase in noise, crowding, and conflicts in public spaces;
3) Areas in front of bars and clubs with large numbers of people on the streets smoking and drinking alcohol;
4) Advertisements for alcoholic beverages and establishments selling alcohol on the streets;
5) Traffic jams;
6) Street vendors;
7) Drunk people walking on the streets;
8) Cabs parked on the streets;
9) Garbage on the streets.

Impact evaluations

An impact assessment showed a reduction in assaults, deaths, and injuries from traffic accidents. At the same time, there was no systematic impact on the number of rapes and domestic violence [1].
The authors conjecture that, considering that home sales were not affected, the restriction may have induced behavioral changes in relation to the preferred place for alcohol consumption, from public to private.

Bibliographic reference

[1] Mello, J. de, Mejía, D. & Suárez, L. (2013). The Pharmacological Channel Revisited: Alcohol Sales Restrictions and Crime in Bogota (IDB Working Paper Series núm. IDB-WP-394). Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). https://publications.iadb.org/publications/english/document/The-Pharmac…

Information source