Suspension of alcohol sales may last from a couple of days up to a week and currently officials suspend about 100 alcohol retail permits each year.
In spite of the rise in temporary suspensions, the number of licenses completely revoked has remained constant at about 50 per year. So far this year 29 licenses have been completely revoked and 64 suspended.
An all out ban on alcohol sales is handed down only in cases of extreme financial wrongdoing. Temporary suspensions are used to punish milder infractions, such as in cases involving public disturbances or selling alcohol to the under aged or inebriated.