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TWENTIETH CONGRESS Wo nner G

First Regular Session

House Bill No. 527

Introduced by Representative Reynante U. Arrogancia

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to regulate and restrict the access of the youth to alcoholic beverages.
Article 2, Section 13 of the 1987 Constitution states:

The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote
and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall
inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in
public and civic affairs

The State must protect the nation’s youth from the effects of factors detrimental to
their development and progress. Underage drinking poses a risk to the individual and
society. The exposure of adolescents to alcohol can lead to poor brain development and
is associated with risky behavior.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the harmful use of
alcohol accompanies a high burden of disease and significant social and economic
consequences. The harmful consumption of alcohol has been determined as the causal
factor of more than 200 diseases including mental and behavioral disorders, alcohol
dependence and major non communicable diseases."

As a public health priority, reducing the harmful use of alcohol should include
regulating and restricting the availability of alcohol especially among the youth, Based on
the 2021 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) of the DOST-FNRI, an
approximate of 13.2 percent of Filipino adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 are
currently drinking and consuming alcohol. The same report found that the percentage is
significantly higher among male teenagers at 16.1 percent, whereas female teenagers is
reported at 10.4 percent.” Furthermore harmful consumption of alcohol have severe
consequences resulting in violence, injury and crime.”

This bill seeks to curtail the progression of alcohol abuse and dependence, including
its inherent risks, by prohibiting the access of minors to alcohol, penalizing establishments
that sell and penalizing those who provide access of alcohol to minors.

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Bills of similar nature have been filed in the previous Congresses. It is hoped that
in the 20% Congress, this bill will finally become a law. In view of the foregoing, this
representation seeks approval of this bill

;ANCIA
3°? District, Quezon



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 924

Introduced by Representative Reynante U. Arrogancia

AN ACT
PROHIBITNG THE ACCESS OF MINORS TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND
PENALIZING INDIVIDUALS AND ESTABLISHMENTS THAT FURNISH
ALCOHOL TO MINORS

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives ofthe Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Anti-Underage Drinking
Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-
building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and
social well-being. Towards this end, the State shall undertake efforts to eliminate alcohol
abuse and reduce underage drinking by prohibiting minors’ access to alcohol.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following items are hereby
defined:

(a) “Alcohol” ~ shall refer to alcoholic beverages classified into beer, wine and
distilled spirits, the consumption of which produces intoxication.

(b) “Establishment” - shall refer to a place used for commercial purposes, such as
bars, restaurants, dance clubs, hotels, retail stores, supermarkets, and other
places with common business areas.

(©) “Minor”: ~ refers to a person below eighteen (18) years of age or those over but
are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse,
neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental
disability or condition as defined in Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special
Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.


SEC. 4, Prohibited Acts. - The following acts are prohibited:

(1) To sell or allow the purchase of alcoholic or intoxicating beverage to minors;

(2) To cause a minor to purchase alcoholic or intoxicating beverage;

(3) The consumption of alcoholic or intoxicating beverage by a minor,

(4) The sale of alcoholic or intoxicating beverage by a minor;

(5) Misrepresentation of one’s age by presenting false identification or otherwise
represent themselves as being of legal age to purchase alcoholic or intoxicating
beverage;

(6) Selling, giving, or otherwise providing alcohol to minors by an establishment which
is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages, or for any employee of that licensee, to sell
or furnish any alcoholic beverages at any time to a person under 18 years of age.

SEC. 5. Penalties -

(1) Any person of legal age or establishment violating the provisions of this law are
subject to fines of ten thousand pesos (Php10,000) for the first offense and fifty
thousand pesos (Php50,000) for every succeeding offense.

(2) Any minor who violated Sec. 4 hereof shall be required to render community
service thru rehabilitative counseling under the social welfare and development
office of the city or municipality concerned with the assistance of the Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The identity of the minor shall at
all times remain confidential.

The DSWD shall issue guidelines on the implementation of Section 5 (2) including
the assistance and care to be provided to the minor and the minor's parents or
guardian.

SEC. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act
shall be charged against the appropriations of the Department of Social Work and
Development (DSWD). Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its full
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or is inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,