ALCOHOL laws are enacted worldwide and vary from country to country. Even in one country, the laws may be different in the individual states and territories.

But the answer to the question in the title is simple: alcohol laws help to protect the public from the harmful effects of alcohol.

The purpose and objective of a law is often made known to the public by the authority which enacts or makes the law.

Take, for example, the law in neighbouring Singapore – the Liquor (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015. Its stated aim is to minimise public disorder and disamenities arising from drinking in public.

On the other hand, the UK’s Licensing Act 2003, which was introduced following a government White Paper on reforming alcohol and entertainment licensing, has the following objectives:

a) prevention of crime and disorder;
b) public safety;
c) prevention of public nuisance; and
d) protection of children from harm.

Simply put, the law is to protect the public. Alcohol laws generally govern matters such as licenses, licensed premises and trading hours, among others.

Under the Singapore Act, a person must not supply any liquor unless the person is authorised by a liquor licence to supply the liquor. “Supply” includes to sell and to offer or agree to sell. The licensee must also only supply liquor on licensed premises and only during trading hours, which are from 7am to 10.30pm.

There are stricter rules in designated Liquor Control Zones – places with a higher risk of public disorder associated with excessive drinking. Licensed premises within the zones are not allowed to sell takeaway alcohol from 7pm on weekends, the eve of public holidays and the public holidays.

England, Wales and Scotland have abolished the old system of permitted hours for the sale of alcohol, allowing for 24-hour trading. But many alcohol control advocates have argued that available evidence shows that longer drinking hours tend to be associated with more alcohol harm rather than less.

To counter the potential social and health problems arising from the 24-hour sale of alcohol, the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 allows licensing authorities to impose early morning restriction orders (EMROs) and late night levies (LNLs) on alcohol vendors within a local vicinity, as part of the government’s alcohol strategy. 

http://www.ias.org.uk/Alcohol-knowledge-centre/Availability-and-licensing/Factsheets/Licensing-legislation-and-alcohol-availability.aspx

In Scotland though, alcohol may only be sold between the hours of 10am and 10pm. There are therefore no 24-hour alcohol sellers in Scotland, unlike in England and Wales. Even so, the pubs in England and Wales generally close at 11pm, though there are some which stay open later.

New research findings in Australia – the first systematic review of alcohol trading hours and violence in more than five years – show that restricting alcohol trading hours can substantially reduce rates of violence and relaxing trading hours has the opposite effect.

“From reviewing the evidence, the message is clear − the more you restrict alcohol trading hours, the more you reduce violence,” said lead author Claire Wilkinson from Melbourne’s Centre for Alcohol Policy Research at La Trobe University. 

The findings are “strong enough” for recommendations to governments to make restrictions on late trading hours and the weight of evidence – both Australian and international – demonstrates the effectiveness of restricting alcohol trading hours in combating violence. 

According to the review, evidence from international studies was “compelling”. One Norwegian study found each one-hour reduction in trading hours was associated with a 16% drop in recorded assaults, and a Dutch study found a 34% increase in alcohol-related ambulance attendances following the extension of trading hours in two entertainment precincts in Amsterdam.

So, it is curious that the Federation of Malaya and Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Wine and Spirit Dealers’ Association secretary should say that the new 2021 liquor licence guidelines set by Kuala Lumpur City Hall are regressive since “every capital in the world allows liquor sales.”

As a matter of fact, where alcohol is sold in the cities of the world, it is sold during trading hours as stipulated by law. Don’t look far – just look at Singapore.

The federal constitution authorises parliament to make laws relating to public order, public health or morality which may impinge personal liberties. Parliament in turn may authorise the executive to make by-laws on the same.

Alcohol laws serve to protect public order and public health, if not morality as well.

There are cogent reasons to make such a law. – November 20, 2020.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.