No booze after 10.30pm: Singapore clamps down on late-night public drinking

Singapore today began imposing a new law to curb late-night drinking in public places in a move aimed at averting public disorder caused by drunkenness.

The new law to control the supply and consumption of alcoholic drinks was passed in Parliament in January this year, more than a year after a major riot by mostly foreign workers in 2013 that was blamed on intoxication.

Under the new law, the consumption of liquor is banned in all public places nationwide from 10.30pm to 7am daily.

Tighter laws will be applied to the Geylang night entertainment district and also to Little India, a commercial enclave heavily frequented by foreign workers where the riot erupted in December 2013, sparked by the death of a foreign worker in a road accident.

In these two “liquor control zones,” the public consumption of alcohol is banned all weekend until 7am Monday, and also on the eve and on public holidays.

Alcohol can still be consumed at home and also in restaurants, cafes and bars that are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. But over-the-counter or take-away retail sales of liquor will not be allowed during the restricted hours.