Colombia: New law to weaken ‘official’ liquor monopolies

Three months of debates and controversy between national producers and importers have finally led to a new proposed law through which the government will seek to regulate local department’s monopoly over the production and sale of spirits and liquors.

The proposal would respect the existing monopoly for local governments in terms of producing, commercializing and distributing alcoholic beverages, including special protections for rum and firewater. In the latter’s case, local departments will be able to restrict its entry and suspend any permits for bringing the drink into their borders.

The project is expected to level the playing field between national and imported liquor, helping collect an estimated $137 million USD in additional liquor tariffs and taxes, bringing the total to nearly 1 trillion pesos (300 million USD, approx.)

Full Content: Semana

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