Sundry and grocery shops, convenience stores as well as Chinese medicine shops in Kuala Lumpur will not be allowed to sell hard liquor starting Oct 1 next year.
However, pure or mixed liquor products in traditional medicine will be exempt from this ruling and beer will still be allowed to be sold at these premises from 7am to 9pm and the beers must be placed separately from other beverages.
According to Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) new guidelines on the criteria for liquor licence applications, existing sundry shops, convenience stores and Chinese medicine shops that sell hard liquor can only renew their liquor licence until Sept 30 next year.
"Business premises that sell liquor also cannot be in front of police stations, places of worship, schools and hospitals.
"Premises and activities that allow liquor sale include restaurants, pubs, bars, hotels, commercial complexes, warehouses, supermarkets, hypermarkets as well as promotional activities that serve liquor.
"Pubs, bars, lounges and restaurants can sell liquor from 10am until midnight while additional application to extend the sale of liquor until 2am can be made based on the allowed entertainment hours of the premises or the approved time limit for premises at entertainment zones.
"Meanwhile, the sale of liquor for wholesalers and sundry shops are limited to 7am to 9pm while beer houses are allowed to sell liquor from 10am to midnight," said the guidelines.
Premises that allow diners to drink at the premises will have to display a blue liquor licence while those that only allowed liquor for take-away will display a yellow licence.
Starting Dec 15 this year the production, sale and consumption of Samsu, a cheap intoxicating liquor, is illegal in Kuala Lumpur.
The full guidelines can be viewed at https://elesen.dbkl.gov.my/elesennew/Forms/GP%20LMK%20Press%20Release2020.pdf