LETTER | Freeze on liquor licence not a solution

LETTER | The recent announcement on the freeze of new liquor licences by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur is astonishing and foolish, to say the least. This action will not stop or reduce drink-driving incidents.

Drink-driving is not an option. It should not be condoned at all costs.

However, meticulous implementation of laws, strict enforcement, and a heavier penalty are the most sensible actions to address this issue.

It is the best option to discourage and reduce drink-driving on our roads. Freezing or banning liquor licences is surely not the answer to this problem. Only people who are shallow in their mind will resort to this option.

The legal limit for alcohol while driving in Malaysia is 80mg per 100ml. A person can be charged a jail sentence of up to 10 years or a fine of up to RM20,000 for an offence under the current Road Transport Act 1987. The government should seriously look into a much heavier penalty to discourage drink-driving.

For the victims of drink-driving, it is a lifelong trauma. While the perpetrator goes away with a fine or a short jail term, the victims and their families require support and help for their physical, psychological, and emotional sufferings to resume their normal lives. Sadly, some may never recover due to the actions of these irresponsible individuals.

Selling any form of liquor in Malaysia is controlled and requires a licence. With this control mechanism in place, it provides authorities with the ability to further regulate the sale of these alcoholic products to customers. We should respect the right of non-Muslim customers to consume alcohol but greater emphasis should be given to the safety and protection of the general public.

There are many other regulatory controls that can be put in place by the authorities to manage this problem but banning or freezing liquor licences should be the last option.

Conduct regular enforcement to stop cheap fake liquor, smuggling, and those evading taxes. These are the main culprits who encourage drink-driving, are not held responsible for their actions, and causes the government to lose revenue on taxes.

Stop the sale of liquor at shops, groceries, and convenience stores by 8pm. Only restaurants, bars, and clubs should be allowed to serve alcohol after 8pm. This will provide better controls that can be put in place at these places as compared to stores and convenient shops.

Put in place strict controls on unregulated homemade alcohol such as samsu, tuak, and toddy which is easily available, cheap, and sold throughout the country.

In addition, a coordinated approach involving the various stakeholders who have an interest in this business will greatly mitigate this issue in the long term.

Encouraging corporate social responsibility initiatives by the owners of businesses selling alcoholic drinks will help mitigate this problem in some way. Initiatives to spread awareness about the dangers of drink-driving can save lives.

Make it compulsory for all outlets selling liquor to have alcohol breathing devices. Customers can then check their level of intoxication and make an informed decision if they should stop drinking, use alternate transport, or call family or friends for transport.

Encourage customers who are intoxicated to be driven home by reliable persons or to use e-hailing services. All entertainment outlets could come together as one, to work with e-hailing service providers for discounted rates for their customers.

Businesses can also ensure the availability of a designated driver or a mode of transport back home for a customer who is seen to be getting intoxicated. Responsible businesses should also discourage the sale of alcoholic products to customers over the counter if their alcohol level is beyond the legally-permitted level.

But most of all, drink responsibly.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.