Colombian rum may soon be legal in homeland

Colombian rum Dictador could soon be available throughout its native country if plans to review local alcohol laws controlled by regional governments are approved.

Dictador Rum could soon be available in its home country if local alcohol laws are overturned

As reported by Bloomberg, imported spirits are available nationwide, but Dictador Rum – produced in Cartagena on Colombia’s Caribbean coast – is illegal in 98% of the country.

However, in a turn of events the government’s National Development Plan that was presented to Congress on 6 February aims to create a more level playing field for local and imported spirits alike.

Distilleries are often owned by regional governments in Colombia who have power over sales of strong spirits in their areas.

Now it seems the country is trying to achieve a system that treats all spirits producers equally regardless of whether they are local or international, Simon Gaviria, head of the National Planning Department, told the news site.

“What Colombia wants is to end discrimination in the liquor market,” said Gaviria. “This would end the discretion for a government to say that this whisky can come, but this aguardiente cannot.”

Hernan Parra, president of the Dictador distillery, said less than 1% of the brand’s 1.1 million bottle annual sales is sold in Colombia.

“No one will invest here with all the monopoly issues,” Parra said.

He continued to explain that he expects local governments in Colombia to try and block the proposal as spirits generate a significant amount of revenue.

“It would be fantastic if the proposals are passed,” Parra added. “But we don’t know what deals there are between politicians.”