DBKL: Retailers given grace period to sell hard liquor

PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has given retail stores in the city a two-month grace period to sell hard liquor.

Describing the matter as a goodwill gesture in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year, a DBKL spokesman said this was on account of overwhelming appeals from retailers.

Hence, retailers are now allowed to sell liquor from Jan 15 until March 14.

“Based on consultation with the Kuala Lumpur Excise Licensing Board, DBKL is allowing the sale so retailers can clear their stock to help mitigate their losses,” said the spokesman.

Retailers are advised to submit their appeals according to current liquor licensing guidelines.

The spokesman also said they were fine-tuning some of the conditions for the selling of hard liquor by retailers.

“There have been concerns by some retailers regarding the new licensing guidelines on the sale of hard liquor, and appeals were submitted to us to enable local businesses to continue to sell,’’ the spokesman said.

“So, we will be doing that, and we will share our findings in teh near future.”

The move came about after appeals by Chinese medical halls, sundry and convenience shops in Kuala Lumpur, which urged DBKL to allow them to sell surplus liquor stock by including them in festive hampers.

Retailers say the Chinese New Year celebration is the ideal time for them to clear their stock on account of the high demand during the period.

The move to restrict hard liquor sales in the city began at the end of last year, when retailers were no longer allowed to sell them from Nov 1, following a ban imposed by the Federal Territories Ministry that covers sundry shops, convenience stores and Chinese medical halls.