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I'm not talking "dry" in the weather sense. There is more than enough rain here right now.
A nationwide referendum will be held in Costa Rica on Sunday, October 7 to determine if the country will approve becoming part of the Central America Free Trade Agreement with the United States. According to law, on the day before, day of, and day following any election, all alcohol sales are prohibited. Bars and liquor stores must close, and restaurants and hotel dining rooms may only serve soft drinks.
Just an FYI if you plan to be in Costa Rica that weekend.
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Cota Rica goes "dry" Oct. 6-8
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Seriously? This is the weekend we're going!!
It's awfully quaint and paternalistic, but it's the law whenever there's a vote. They say they want people to vote with a clear mind, and they also want to subdue any of the passions brought about by an election. (And this promises to be contentious referendum.)
You can buy beer, wine and liquor up until midnight that Friday -- elections are always held on a Sunday -- and it always just flies off the shelf that day. If you have a place to keep it, you can consume it privately over the weekend, but you can't bring it to a public place.
We were there a year or so ago during an election. Even the duty free shop in the terminal was closed.
We went to dinner with friends at a very nice restaurant in Escazu. The restaurant served us wine in Coke bottles, and we drank it from coffee cups. I am sure that did not look suspicious at all!
We also go every year during Easter, and make sure we hit the convenience store before the Good Friday deadline.
Have fun!
Warm Regards,
Pat Hewitt
(Travel professional)
Last year's presidential elections coincided with Superbowl Sunday. A lot of disgruntled American residents and visitors could not go to their favorite bar to watch the game on satellite TV.
Wow. I didn't know about the Super Bowl thing.
I am a certified NFL junkie (Please pray for my Saints). I would have been going crazy.
Pat, the only NFL game I ever attended was at the Superdome back in the late 80's--the Saints vs. Denver. I had a great time and have been a Saints fan ever since they won that day! I remember being in the FQ that night hearing the crowds chant, "Who dat? Who dat? Who dat sayin' dem Saints can't win?" I loved it!
We spent the Superbowl in Arenal 1.5 years ago and didn't have a problem finding the game on TV at the bar. The only issue was having a beer as they can only sell wine during the election.
They were not supposed to be selling wine either. In fact, if it was a bar, they were not supposed to be open at all.
I know it goes on though.
The smaller, more out of the way lodges get around it because they just have a bill for you at the end so you didn't actually "buy" it on the dry days. If they have a public bar associated with them then they do have to close.