NO LIQUOR BELOW 21: Baguio pushes historic shift from 18 to 21 drinking age

Baguio City – An ordinance seeking to raise the minimum legal drinking age from 18 to 21 years old is now being pushed in Baguio City as local officials move to strengthen liquor policies and protect public health, particularly among the youth.

During the May 18 session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, as cited by DZWT 540 AM – News and Information, Committee on Health and Sanitation, Ecology, and Environmental Protection Chairperson Elmer Datuin presented the proposed ordinance supporting stricter alcohol regulations in the city.

Entitled “An Ordinance Codifying the Liquor Ordinances in Baguio City,” the measure aims to prevent early exposure of young people to alcohol and reduce related health and social risks.

Citing studies from the World Health Organization (WHO), the committee noted that early alcohol consumption is linked to liver disease, brain damage, mental health issues, and alcohol-related injuries.

The proposed ordinance also stated that alcohol use contributes to violence, road accidents, domestic abuse, decreased productivity, and rising healthcare costs.

Aside from raising the minimum legal drinking age to 21, the proposal seeks to expand buffer zones for liquor establishments from 50 meters to 100 meters and require the installation of health warning signage in all liquor-selling establishments.

Other recommendations include the creation of an alcohol and health dashboard, training for sanitation inspectors, and coordination with colleges and universities for alcohol harm-reduction programs.

The committee, however, supports exempting traditional cultural alcoholic beverages such as tapuey, basi, and tuba from the stricter provisions.

If approved, Baguio City would become the first local government unit in the Philippines to implement a 21-year minimum legal drinking age. Currently, the legal drinking age nationwide remains at 18 under existing national frameworks.

As of this writing, the proposed ordinance is still subject to further deliberation, with representatives from the WHO and other concerned offices expected to participate in upcoming hearings and provide recommendations on the measure.