Acknowledging the unlikelihood of individuals gorging on enough tubs of alcoholic ice cream to incite a riot on the streets, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is looking to relax the restrictions it implemented under the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act.
Enacted three years ago in response to the Little India Riot of 2013, the Act prohibits the sale of liquor at retail outlets such as supermarkets and convenience stores from 10:30pm to 7am every day. Between those hours, folks can’t consume alcohol in public places, except within licensed premises such as bars and restaurants.
According to the Act, products containing more than 0.5 percent alcohol would be defined as liquor. But the rules seemed pretty ridiculous when people started posting photos of signs that said you can’t buy ice cream with some alcohol in it as if it was as dangerous as a bottle of vodka.
“Based on feedback, we are in discussions with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and industry stakeholders on providing an exemption for food products containing alcohol, where there is little or low likelihood of alcohol abuse,” noted the MHA in a statement yesterday.
“Such exempted products can then be sold and consumed without the restrictions specified under the (Liquor Control Act).”
Nonetheless, MHA affirmed that the measures implemented three years ago have “significantly reduced public drunkenness and related disamenities”.
