Cold Turkey on Election Day

Saturnight, Bong, Quennie, Arian, Sheila and friends were at Paseo when I got Markee’s text message.

“Hoy! Liquor Ban at 12am! Hold your beers!”

I told Mitz the same thing and we laughed. We don’t drink. Kevs, right? Not like it’ll affect us. I had to leave the place early because Hunhun was at home so I missed the part where at 12am, people started getting the bottles from customers’ tables at Paseo. Because its 12am! And they closed after thirty minutes. OMG. Poor, poor hardcore drinkers!

Lazz night, Mitz, Kit and Ybo were at Select Shell Station, Lahug after having dinner at Ila Puti when we noticed that there were a lot of people coming in packs. The madness began to have method, as expected. Cars started pouring in the parking area and one by one, people got out from their cars and were trying hard to convince the cashier to sell them beers.

“I’ll pay double, ate!”

“Your supervisor won’t know!”

“Hide it under a plastic bag.”

[coming from Americans] “We’re not even Filipinos. We can’t vote!”

Can anyone get over the fact that it’s just for one day? Business will be slow on Election Day and these merchants will have to work twice as hard the next day. I haven’t seen anyone out of their wits yet but one girl did come staggering to the counter and was, of course, denied.I was just amazed that she was already drunk.

“Ah, maybe those leftover bottles of wine at home or nagtiis ng tuba?”

The rest of Cebu were either smuggling beer or filling up at Coffeebean and Tea Leaf, Starbucks and every imaginable cafe in the city. Hows that for preparing themselves for election? That liquor ban is stronger than any locomotive. I should start drinking so that I can relate.