First Reading of Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Bill - Speech by Mr S Iswaran, Minister in the Prime Minister's Officer, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry

Introduction

The Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Bill was introduced for First Reading in Parliament today.

Background

2. In September 2012, arising from public feedback over law and order concerns and disamenities associated with excessive liquor consumption and drunkenness in public places, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) embarked on a review of liquor control measures.

3. MHA conducted two public consultation exercises between October 2013 and August 2014, and received close to 400 pieces of written feedback. MHA also conducted discussions with about 180 stakeholders, including members of the public, grassroots representatives and business owners. There was strong support from most respondents for measures to better manage retail sale hours for take-away liquor and the consumption of liquor in public places. 1 [The findings of the public consultation exercises are summarised in Annex A.]

Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Bill

4. The Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Bill will provide the legislative framework to regulate the retail sale hours for take-away liquor and the consumption of liquor in public places. Once enacted, the consumption of liquor in public places will not be allowed from 10.30pm to 7.00am every day.  In line with this, the retail sale hours for take-away liquor will also end at 10.30pm throughout Singapore,2  the same time as the restriction on the consumption of liquor in public places. Extension of retail sale hours for take-away liquor beyond 10.30pm may be granted on a case-by-case basis under the liquor licensing regime. However, members of the public can continue to consume liquor at home during the restricted hours, and at approved events and within licensed premises such as restaurants, coffee shops or bars, in accordance with the hours stipulated in their permits or licences.

5. The Bill will also provide Police with powers to intervene early and take necessary action to mitigate the risks of public disorder and disamenities arising from public drunkenness.

6. MHA also studied liquor control measures in cities in Australia, the US, and the UK. Many have restrictions on retail sale for take-away liquor and the consumption of liquor in public places that have been in force for some time. Most of them are significantly more restrictive than the proposed measures in this Bill. [Please refer to Annex B for more information.]

7. In developing the Bill, the Ministry also considered factors such as making it easy for members of the public to understand the new measures to facilitate compliance and enforcement of the new regulations.

Proposed Features of the Bill

8. The key features of the Bill are:

a) Restriction on the consumption of liquor in public places: The Minister may prescribe time periods during which the consumption of liquor in public places is not allowed. After extensive consultation and study, MHA has decided that the consumption of liquor in public places will not be allowed from 10.30pm to 7.00am every day. This is aligned with the closing time of most businesses in residential areas, and the time that most community events, such as getai and grassroots events, end. The restriction will apply to all public places in Singapore for clarity of compliance and enforcement, and to minimise displacement problems from one area to another. However, organisers of events held in public places may apply for a permit for exceptions to this restriction for a specific place and time. Members of the public can continue to consume liquor at home during the restricted hours, and at approved events and within licensed premises such as restaurants, coffee shops or bars, in accordance with the hours stipulated in their permits or licences.

b) Restriction on retail sale hours for take-away liquor: Once the restrictions on the consumption of liquor in public places are put in place, the Police will specify as a licensing condition that the retail sale hours for take-away liquor end at 10.30pm throughout Singapore. The extension of retail sale hours for take-away liquor beyond 10.30pm may be granted on a case-by-case basis. Members of the public can continue to purchase liquor but only for consumption in licensed premises such as restaurants, coffee shops or bars, during the hours stipulated in their licences.

c) Designation of Liquor Control Zones : The Minister may designate an area as a Liquor Control Zone where there is a significant risk of public disorder associated with excessive consumption of liquor. Stricter restrictions on the retail sale hours of take-away liquor and the consumption of liquor in public places, substantially similar to those applied in Little India under the Public Order (Additional Temporary Measures) Act3 , will be implemented in these zones. Liquor-related offences committed within such a zone will result in an enhanced penalty of 1.5 times that in non-designated areas. Police may also disallow a person from being in a Liquor Control Zone for a specified period of time if he is reasonably suspected of committing or having committed certain liquor-related offences, e.g. consumption of liquor in public places during restricted hours, drunkenness in public places.

Based on Police's current operational assessment, specified areas in Little India and Geylang will be designated as Liquor Control Zones. [Please refer to Annex E for the proposed boundaries of these two Liquor Control Zones.]

d) Transfer of provisions for public drunkenness: Existing legal provisions related to public drunkenness will be transferred from current laws such as the Penal Code and the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act to the new legislation. In addition, Police will be empowered to direct a person who is drunk and creating annoyance to leave a public place, and to dispose of his liquor.

e) Transfer of liquor licensing provisions from Customs Act : Liquor licensing provisions will be transferred from the Customs Act to the new legislation. The Minister will appoint a Licensing Officer to make regulatory decisions while a Liquor Appeal Board will hear appeals against regulatory decisions. Penalties for licensing-related offences will be enhanced. Police will be empowered to temporarily close licensed premises, issue directions to owners of premises, or suspend their licences, if the continued operation of the premises poses a significant threat to public safety or if severe offence(s) involving violence or public disorder have been committed on the premises.

9. More details will be made available at the Second Reading of the Bill.

1 A public place refers to any place (whether open-air or enclosed) to which members of the public have access, such as parks, void decks and pavements. It excludes residences.

2 The Bill provides for the retail sale hours for take-away liquor to be specified in the liquor licences. This allows flexibility for extensions to be granted on a case-by-case basis.

3 The Public Order (Additional Temporary Measures) Act in Little India was implemented on 1 April 2014 and will expire on 31 March 2015. More details on the Act can be found here. Under this Act, the consumption of liquor in public places within the special zone in Little India, is not allowed on weekends, public holidays and eve of public holidays; and retail sale for take-away liquor is not allowed from 8pm to 6am on weekends, public holidays and eve of public holidays.

Annex

Annexes to the Press Release on First Reading of Liquor Control Supply and Consumption Bill.pdf (PDF,1MB)