The Mayor's Office of the district of Dolega, in Chiriquí province, published Mayoral Decree 16-2026 in Official Gazette No. 30641-A of October 23, 2026, signed on October 2 by Mayor Miguel Pitti Caballero. The decree governs the day of November 2, the date that Law 26 of 1941 sets aside to commemorate All Souls' Day, and also relies on Article 234 of the Political Constitution and on Law 106 of 1973, on the municipal regime.

Its first article bans the sale, dispensing and consumption of liquor in corner stores, bars, distributors, supermarkets, convenience stores, shops, restaurants, grill houses, homes and similar establishments throughout the district, from 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on November 2, which in 2026 falls on a Monday. In that same window it suspends activities with jukeboxes, sound systems and audio equipment, as well as parties and dances.

The second article sets the end of the restriction: from 7:00 p.m. that same day, activities related to the month of national holidays are authorized, as organized by the Patriotic Festivities Board. The third article punishes violators with fines of B/.500 to B/.1,000, to be applied by the competent authority, and the fourth article sends the decree to the National Police, the Municipal Police and the Night Community Justices of the Peace for enforcement.

For local businesses, the effect is concentrated in a single day, but it reaches almost the entire chain of alcoholic beverage sales, from the distributor to the restaurant and the grill house. Businesses that depend on the early November festivities could see their sales shift toward the night of November 2, when the start of the patriotic activities coincides with the end of the ban. For supermarkets and distributors operating in several districts, this type of measure usually requires inventory and staffing adjustments by branch, because each municipality sets its own schedule.

The decree is already in force: its fifth article provides that it takes effect upon signature and promulgation in the Official Gazette. What remains is enforcement, which depends on police and municipal oversight during the day and on the application of fines by the competent authority, which the decree does not expressly identify. Nexo Capital will follow the measures that other municipalities publish for the same date.

Research assisted by Sentinel, with editorial verification of official sources. Discover Legislat.ai