Prohibit Consumption of Alcohol in Areas Close to Residential Blocks
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether the Government will prohibit alcohol consumption in HDB public areas near residential blocks to prevent social disamenities such as rowdy behavior. Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam stated that the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act already prohibits public drinking between 10:30 pm and 7:00 am. Since the Act’s 2015 implementation, there has been an islandwide decline in liquor-related public order incidents and feedback regarding social disamenities caused by drinking. Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam noted that extending these hours for specific areas is unnecessary and would result in confusing, finely delineated zones within estates. These varying restrictions would make it difficult for the public to comply and for authorities to enforce the law effectively.
Transcript
43 Mr Darryl David asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Government will prohibit alcohol consumption in all public areas in HDB estates that are close to residential blocks to prevent undesirable acts of indiscriminate urination, rowdy behaviour and acts of public affray that affect the residents of the affected blocks.
Mr K Shanmugam: Under the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act, consumption of alcohol in all public places, including public areas in Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates, is already prohibited between 10.30 pm and 7.00 am. The restricted hours were intended to minimise disruption to the usual activities of most residents as 10.30 pm is the closing time of most businesses in residential areas, as well as the time when most community activities cease.
Since the Liquor Control Act came into effect on 1 April 2015, we have observed a general islandwide decline in the number of public order incidents related to liquor consumption and feedback on social disamenities, such as noise caused by people drinking in public late at night. There is, therefore, no necessity to extend the restricted hours for public consumption of alcohol at the present time.
The Member's suggestion to extend the restricted hours for certain areas in HDB estates is also challenging to implement. This would result in finely delineated zones within the same HDB estate. Different common areas, depending on whether they were located near residential blocks, would have different restricted hours for alcohol consumption. Members of the public may be confused which zone they are in, making compliance and enforcement difficult.