Bogota’s mayor, Gustavo Petro, has announced a “dry law” in Colombia’s capital, which bans alcohol during Colombia’s second World Cup match against Ivory Coast for reasons of public safety, according to local media.
Bogota Mayor Gustavo Petro enacted the dry law because of violence and public disorder that swept the city after Colombia’s 3-0 victory against Greece on Saturday and the 68th anniversary of Bogota’s regional soccer team, Millionarios, on Wednesday.
Se ha decretado la ley seca en toda Bogotá hasta las 6 am del día viernes. Esperamos celebración del futbol en Paz. Rechaza la violencia.
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) June 19, 2014
The alcohol ban will be in effect until 6AM Friday covering Colombia’s World Cup match against Ivory Coast.
Mayor Petro wrote on Twitter, “We hope for celebrations of soccer in peace. Reject violence.”
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Saturday’s victory celebrations over the win against Greece were inundated with chaos.
“There was not just partying, but a problem of security. Around 3,000 fights, 1,500 announced via 123 [police phone number], that resulted in over 100 injured with knives, 15 with firearms, 9 dead, traffic accidents, roadblocks,” stated the mayor in Colombia’s Semana news magazine.
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Authorities will have alcohol checkpoints throughout the city to avoid accidents. The police will also monitor the city with a helicopter, restrict the movement of cars with certain license plate numbers using a system called “Pico y Placa,” and put hospitals on alert starting at 6AM.
