Optic101 Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 https://sg.news.yahoo.com/proposed-law-will-ban-alcohol-retail-sales-islandwide-from-10-30pm-061823507.html Proposed law will ban alcohol retail sales in Singapore from 10:30pm[uPDATED on Monday, 19 January 2015 at 9:45pm: Adding comments from Edwin Tong] A new Bill introduced in Singapore's Parliament on Monday plans to ban public consumption and retail sale of alcoholic drinks from 10:30pm to 7am islandwide.Once the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Bill is passed, Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will require parties holding events involving alcohol to apply for a permit to carry the drinks at their events — these include people holding parties at public barbecue pits, public void decks and countdown beach parties, for example.Anyone found guilty of drinking after 10.30pm in a public place will face a fine of up to $1,000. A repeat offender can be fined up to $2,000 and will face a jail-term of up to three months. Pubs, bars and restaurants serving alcoholic beverages will still be allowed to sell them after-hours, provided that their customers drink them within their premises, while consuming liquor at home will not be restricted. Licensees or proprietors who sell alcohol beyond the trading hours stipulated in their licences may be liable to a fine of up to $10,000. Public alcohol consumption banned in Geylang and Little IndiaA map of the Liquor Control Zone in Little India. (Map courtesy of MHA) In addition, two special zones will be demarcated — Geylang and Little India — where the consumption of alcohol in public will be banned during all hours during weekends and public holidays. These have been marked as "Liquor Control Zones". No time restrictions have been mentioned in the Bill for retail sales of alcohol in these two Zones yet, although current restrictions in Little India under the Public Order (Additional Temporary Measures) Act ban retail sales from 8pm to 6am on weekends, public holidays and the eves of public holidays.GeylangAs to why Geylang and Little India were picked as the two key liquor control zones, the two areas were during the Little India riot Committee of Inquiry proceedings last year flagged to have higher numbers of public order incidents. Consultation for the new alcohol control Bill began in 2012, a year prior to the 8 December 2013 Little India riot, when polls on government feedback portal REACH showed support for additional control measures on alcohol consumption. The ministry then expanded into focus groups in late 2013 and in 2014, with more than 200 stakeholders that included pub and bar owners as well as members of the public. Potential for police abuse? Doubtful, says GPC deputy chairman Sharing his thoughts on the new Bill, member of parliament Edwin Tong, deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Law and Home Affairs, told Yahoo Singapore that the current Bill will give police greater powers to curb larger-scale incidents that are caused by excessive consumption of alcohol. "Beyond the usual offences that we have now, the Miscellaneous Offences Act and the Public Order Act, this gives that a bit more teeth, which I think is useful," he added. At the same time, however, he stressed that he did not think police would be likely to exploit the powers given under the new Bill to arrest drinkers spotted in public. "It's hard to speculate, but I don't see the police patrolling just to catch people drinking," he said on Monday evening. "I think there will be a period of adjustment where there will be a lot more public education... a lot more of the 'soft touch' approach initially, while people are getting used to the fact that there are these laws and so on." Tong, whose constituency covers the Geylang area, to be demarcated as one of the two Liquor Control Zones, said shopkeepers in the area have expressed concern at their business being curtailed. "To the honest shopkeeper making a living selling alcohol, you can't help but feel sorry for them," he said. "But you do need to balance that against the public need... (however) if there is a significant amount of loss of business because of timing, I would press for a review with the MHA, to look at it again." If passed into law, this will be Singapore's first-ever public drinking legislation. MHA says such legislation already exists in various forms in numerous countries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Wow! Talk about nanny state laws Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusguy Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I see things haven't gotten any better there since I lived there in 1993/4... I went to Malaysia almost every weekend because I couldn't stand all the rules and regulations - and this is coming from a German (I.e. we love our rules and regulations). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 It's the same everywhere. These things are brought in to promote public safety...yet, conveniently they end up protecting business interests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duxnutz Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Sounds lie some backward ass crap they'd bring into force in Sydney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainQuintero Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Prohibition has a good history of being effective and beneficial to society :s 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torsion Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I saw this thread last night and immediately sent it to my Singaporean BOTL. I totally appreciate Singapore for everything it's become but this new bill seems a bit much. I said to the BOTL there I hope it doesn't affect their ability to have a nice scotch and cigar in any establishments. Proper Nanny State Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PigFish Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Prohibition has a good history of being effective and beneficial to society :s ...never use sarcasm, it confuses the drunks! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philski Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Singapore's Parliament on Monday plans to ban public consumption and retail sale of alcoholic drinks from 10:30pm to 7am islandwide. So, once the sun's back up you can get back on the piss? Sounds reasonable enough. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunkenMonkey Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I totally appreciate Singapore for everything it's become but this new bill seems a bit much. One of the things it's become is a police state, and has been for a long time. I suppose there is much to appreciate about Singapore, but liberty doesn't appear on that list. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optic101 Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 Singapore is a great place to live IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merc Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 What's the real reason behind the ban? Is alcohol related violence an issue in Singapore? I remember feeling quite safe everywhere there.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earthson Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 ...never use sarcasm, it confuses the drunks! Wait.... what's sarcasm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Presidente Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I truly love Singapore. One of my favourite places. For me the perfect mix of class and debauchery. Outside of drinking in public places after 10:30pm (streets/parks/beaches) I am not sure what is changing? Pubs, bars and restaurants serving alcoholic beverages will still be allowed to sell them after-hours, provided that their customers drink them within their premises, while consuming liquor at home will not be restricted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabashcr Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 As long as you can still drink in pubs and restaurants, I don't see this being that big of a deal. Public drinking isn't generally acceptable in my city at any time of day, other than special events. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwsaw63 Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 The reason this law was brought in was to put a stop to 2 things:- 1. Teens/young adults tanking up on cheap booze in public before hitting the clubs 2. Foreign workers tanking up on cheap booze in public and getting rowdy (the recent riot in Little India was triggered by alcohol) If you are not in one of the two groups above, you ain't going to be affected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzz Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Banning drinking in public after 10:30pm won't solve the problem. Young people will just tank up on cheap booze at home, before heading out to party. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunkenMonkey Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 The reason this law was brought in was to put a stop to 2 things:- 1. Teens/young adults tanking up on cheap booze in public before hitting the clubs 2. Foreign workers tanking up on cheap booze in public and getting rowdy (the recent riot in Little India was triggered by alcohol) If you are not in one of the two groups above, you ain't going to be affected. What if you own a store in Little India that sells alcohol? I'd guess you'll be affected? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Presidente Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 What if you own a store in Little India that sells alcohol? I'd guess you'll be affected? Retail of liquor in Sing is pretty tightly controlled (in my experience). There isn't the array of retail options that you would find in most parts of the world. Outside of restaurants/bars in Little India, I can't recall a retail liquor outlet (no doubt they are there). For the restaurants and bars nothing will change (that I can see). If you were selling Singha/Tiger beer in six packs to people who enjoyed a beer on the street past 10:30 pm then possibly you will be affected. One would think however that consumption patterns would change as opposed to a hit to the bottom retail line (they would drink the takeaways at home or on premise before heading out). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optic101 Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 A big influence may be seen on "Food Court / Hawker" drink shops. They are selling drinks from tea, coffee, juice and beer, and don't have an "inside" area for customers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Presidente Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 A big influence may be seen on "Food Court / Hawker" drink shops. They are selling drinks from tea, coffee, juice and beer, and don't have an "inside" area for customers. That makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzz Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Unless they consider hawker centres (eg Old Airport Rd, Newton Food Centre, Tekka Centre, etc) as exempt or like a restaurant, though probably not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optic101 Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 We will see somewhen how they translate their intension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunkenMonkey Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 It's amazing to me that Singapore, of all places, sees a lack of public order as a main problem. I mean, when there is a problem they have CCTV from 50 different angles, and can go round up the people and lock them away without due process. How chaotic does it ever really get in Singapore anyway? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sengjc Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Banning drinking in public after 10:30pm won't solve the problem. Young people will just tank up on cheap booze at home, before heading out to party. Creates a drink driving problem then: young, drunk and behind the wheel...hmmm... Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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