S'pore set to restrict liquor consumption at public places

Singapore is coming up with the first-ever legislation that would restrict consumption and sale of alcohol at public places late in the night across the country, on the lines of the rules imposed in Little India.
Consumers will not be able to purchase alcohol for take-away or consume alcohol in public places from 10.30pm to 7am daily under the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Bill which was introduced in parliament today.
"The start time of 10.30pm is aligned with the closing time of most businesses in residential areas, and it is the time by which most community events end," the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a statement.

The restriction will apply to all public places to avoid displacement of problems from one area to another, MHA said.
The proposed laws are largely similar to those currently in place in Little India, which were adopted by Parliament last year. Police are able to bar a person from the zone for liquor-related offences such as drunkenness in public.
Little India is a precinct of Indian-origin establishments where migrant workers rioted on the night of December 8, 2013, most of whom were believe to be drunk, the city-state's worst outbreak of violence in over 40 years.

People will be able to drink at home, at approved events and in licensed establishments such as bars and coffee shops outside of these hours, it said.

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".
Like Little India, Geylang area is also popular among foreign workers.
Such zones are where there is significant risk of public disorder associated with excessive drinking.
Little India is a precinct of Indian-origin establishments where migrant workers rioted on the night of December 8, 2013, most of whom were believe to be drunk.
The MHA said it began reviewing liquor control measures from September 2012 - before the Little India riot in December 2013 - after public feedback on law and order situation and inconveniences caused by excessive drinking. There was strong support for the proposed measures.

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.