by Nick Delgado

Guam - Vice-Speaker B.J. Cruz introduced two measures this morning dealing with the sale of alcoholic beverages. His Bill 356 will require that those licensed to sell alcoholic beverages not to sell or serve to anyone between the hours of 2am and 8am on weekdays and weekends.

A news release from the senator's office notes that the current law prohibits selling and serving alcohol between 4am and 8am on weekends.

Additionally, Cruz introduced Bill 357, which requires that the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board impose a mandatory license suspension of 30-90 days for violations of the hours of sale law as a second offense and a license revocation for the third offense.

Cruz told KUAM News, "We had a meeting about problems that they have been having in Tumon, about bars that were serving alcohol past four o'clock in the morning and incidents of violence's that have been following it. This has been going on for several years. There are all the problems of the car accidents with the DUI's after two o'clock and I thought maybe we could do two companion bills."

The measures were introduced in an effort to reduce crime and increased health costs that result from consuming alcohol.