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CPA plans unrestricted sale of alcohol in ports
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Posted on Mar 26 2001
The Commonwealth Ports Authority is proposing for the unrestricted sale of alcoholic beverages in all Northern Marianas airports, in fresh attempts to increase the agency’s non-aviation revenues.
CPA has drafted a proposed legislation to amend a provision in the Commonwealth Code that currently restricts sale of alcoholic beverages throughout the Northern Marianas within a specific time.
Executive Director Carlos H. Salas said the proposed measure seeks to exempt CNMI airports from the existing law which allows the sale of alcoholic beverages up until 2am only.
“Such exemption from the existing law would allow the sale of alcohol in the secured area only and to passengers departing the CNMI airports,” said Mr. Salas in a letter to House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial.
He said the draft bill is similar to Guam’s law providing Guam International Airport Authority the flexibility to allow concessionaires to sell alcohol beverages at all times, and to increase non-aviation revenue at the airport.
At present, on-sale licensees are not allowed to sell any alcoholic beverages after 2am. They may begin selling and serving alcohol at 9am.
The proposed measure exempts the Saipan, West Tinian and Rota International Airports from this provision in the Commonwealth Code that deals with sale and serving of alcoholic beverages.
CPA earlier installed meters at the parking area in front of the Saipan International Airport and at the Saipan Harbor to increase non-aviation revenues.
Imposition of charges at the airport’s public parking area was decided to increase current level of CPA revenues while repressing adverse effects on the airline industry by delaying the implementation of new aviation rate schedule.
CPA started charging car owners who would use the public parking area at the Saipan International Airport a dollar per hour as part of the agency’s efforts to increase revenues last July 1, 1999.
The decision was made during the ports authority’s board meeting in February 1999 where all other fees charged by CPA will be raised on different effective dates.
