Chávez bans Holy Week alcohol sales

Hugo Chávez, the radical (and teetotal) president of Venezuela, has banned alcohol sales during Holy Week (actually, beginning the Friday before Good Friday). As this is a holiday period, which Venezuelians often devote to drinking, this presidential decree has created more outrage than over many other obviously controversial policies. The ban is not absolute except against beer sales by street vendors who serve drivers on roadways and for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, with restricted hours for the rest of Holy Week. Supposedly the ban is intended to reduce traffic accidents. For more, see here.