In each electoral process, thousands of commercial establishments throughout the country are forced to close their doors or their spaces destined for the sale of alcoholic beverages from 8 in the morning of the day before the election day until 8 in the morning of the day following the election; that is, a total of 48 hours.
The measure, however, despite its old application, does not have the support of the majority of the population. The last survey conducted by Ipsos nationwide for Peru21 reveals that 64% of citizens support the reduction of the call application period Dry lawand the figure even rises in Lima to 67% due to the affectation it generates in a diversity of businesses such as wineries, restaurants and tourism agencies. The study, carried out on a base of 1,204 interviewees, in addition, indicates that in the east and the center of the country the support of a flexibility of the provision is even greater with 71% and 72%, respectively.
TECHNICAL SHEET: National Urban Ipsos Survey held on September 4 and 5 between 1,204 men and women over 18 years of all socioeconomic levels. Technique: quantitative by face -to -to -face surveys using mobile devices. Margin of error for local results of +- 2.8%.
Millionaire losses
According to the Director of the United Mype Studies Center in Peru (MUP), Daniel Hermoza, the alcoholic beverages represe that would add other S/48 million in profits. All that to the detriment of a sector that is already affected by the climate of insecurity and extortion.
Mercedes Quiñones, president of the Ancash cell of the Association of Women’s Winery Women of Peru (AgingMub), for its part, warned that the dry law is only complied with by formal businesses, since the authorities are not in the possibility of exercising effective and broad control, especially in provinces. “This directly impacts our family basket,” he said.
Paternalistic measure
Hermoza and Quiñones participated in the work table organized by Congressman Ed Malaga, who has presented a bill to modify two articles of the Organic Law of Elections referring to the publication of surveys and the application of the dry law.
On this last point, he explained to Peru21 that its initiative responds to the economic impact that the measure has in an important sector of the country’s economic fabric: the Mypes, which are restricted their trade possibilities.
“This threatens the formality because it pushes the consumer to clandestine channels and, in a little more extreme contexts, to the consumption of adulterated drinks,” he said.
Another aspect, he said, “has to do with the origin of the norm, which was designed to guarantee a conscious, judicious vote and without the influence of substances that disturb having clarity when voting.”
“That is a quite paternalistic and thought attitude for another era that perhaps this did merit, but today is not consistent with reality, with the advancement of consciousness, of the civic values we have today; there is the individual freedom to act according to your will, your convictions and ethical principles, and this must also be respected, the application of the dry law cuts that freedom,” he warned.
By virtue of this, Málaga states that the National Jury of Elections applies the measure in an exceptional way, only in certain constituencies and for “duly motivated reasons (…) in order to guarantee the public order and the normal development of the electoral processes” from 8:00 hours of the day before the day of the vote until the closing of the voting premises, that is to say about 21 hours.
For Andrés Choy, president of the Association of Bodegueros del Perú, however, this period could even be reduced if it is limited to the 10 hours that the voting day will last, at least in the April 2026 elections.
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