DBKL should reconsider restrictions on liquor sales, says former licensing board chairman

KUALA LUMPUR City Hall (DBKL) should reconsider its decision to restrict the sale of liquor as it could spur the sale of illegal cheap alcohol online, says former Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Excise Licensing Board (ELBKL) chairman Datuk P. Gunaseelan.

The former DBKL Advisory board member has expressed concern over the relentless promotion of binge drinking online.

“These are big brands and when it comes with cheap price tags, I am very concerned,’’ Gunaseelan said.

Gunaseelan said he was bombarded with multiple messages via WhatsApp from people offering him cheap liquor for sale during the recent Deepavali festival.

“I called up friends in the industry to check the prices and was told that the brands mentioned were too cheap to be the real deal,’’ he said.

“We will be facing a serious health crisis if the ban is allowed to proceed. With liquor being banned at legitimate outlets, it will only make it easier for people to buy them online without any restrictions on their age or time of purchase,’’ he said.

The new guidelines on the liquor sale restrictions, which excludes beer, were brought up on Nov 15 last year.

Initially set to be enforced on Oct 1 this year, the ban was postponed for a month for the guidelines to be finalised.

Now sundry shops, convenience shops and Chinese medicine halls can only sell beer, and only from 7am to 9pm.