Harder to buy hard liquor soon

PUTRAJAYA: The Government will make it more difficult and expensive to buy liquor from December next year.

Health authorities have raised the age limit to buy alcoholic beverages from 18 to 21 and taxes on compounded hard liquor will be increased.

The new rulings will take effect 18 months from now on Dec 1, 2017, announced Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

“The regulations pertaining to control of alcohol under Food Regulation 1985 were amended and gazetted on May 27. Changes in policy are in line with an international agreement signed by Malaysia in 2010 during the World Health Assembly, aimed to reduce availability of alcoholic beverages in the market,” he told the media.

He said premises selling alcohol would have to display a notice prohibiting the sale of liquor to those under 21 and to warn customers of the dangers of consuming such beverages.

Manufacturers have until the end of next year to ensure their products have a warning label, and bars and other outlets must display alcoholic drinks separately from other beverages.

The minister said the move was also aimed at stopping teenagers and students from consuming alcohol. Those who break the rules face a fine of not more than RM10,000 or jail of up to two years.

“From December next year, compounded hard liquor sold in coffee shops, medicine halls and sundry outlets will no longer be available cheap. These drinks can only be sold in 700ml bottles and with the increase in tax, a drink which can now be purchased for RM5 will become RM50,” he said.

Dr Subramaniam said the measure is to address growing concerns over the effects of cheap liquor on society, including school children.

“We found that cheap liquor has caused social issues, particularly in the poor and low income category. There are cases of people sleeping and lying on the streets due to excessive consumption of alcohol. That is why we need to initiate measures to tackle it,” he added.

He said the new regulation would be enforced at the end of 2017 to allow manufacturers time to make changes to their packaging, and labelling of products and to comply with the World Trade Organisation practice.

The ministry will also be working with the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry to address the issue of people consuming alcohol in public such as in parks and by roadsides.