In response to complaints of public drunkenness in 2012, The Straits Times reports that the Parliament of Singapore has proposed new, comparatively stringent legislation on the consumption and sale of liquor. The new measures would forbid drinking in public places (parks, recreational areas, camping grounds, streets, etc.) from 10:30 p.m. – 7 a.m. as well as the sale of take-away liquor during those hours. Permits will have to be obtained for events in public spaces outside that window, and new powers will be given to police “to tell someone who is drunk and annoying others to leave a public place and to dispose of the liquor.”
Designated zones that have been more susceptible to drunken debauchery in the past will be marked Liquor Control Zones, where violation of the new measure could carry heftier penalties. For example, “people found guilty of drinking after 10:30pm in a public place will face a fine of up to $1,000. A repeat offender will not just face the possibility of a fine of up to $2,000, but also a jail-term of up to three months.”(In comparison, the fine for public drinking in New York City is $25; the highest fine in London hovers around £500.)
If the poll attached to The Straits Times article is representative of the public’s reaction, which as of 3:30 pm EST reads 78 percent opposed vs. 20 percent in favor of the new proposals, then such a bill will not be welcomed by the public. [The Straits Times] [Image: Flickr/Scottish Government]