SINGAPORE — A 52-year-old Singaporean man has become the first person to be charged in court and convicted of drinking alcohol in public during prohibited hours, slightly more than a year since the new law took effect.
Tan Gak Hin was fined S$1,000 on Thursday (May 5), the maximum for a first-offender under the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act.
He had been drinking beer with four friends at a bench near Block 279, Bishan Street 24 from about 11pm on Feb 22 this year, after the cut-off time of 10.30pm under the law.
At about 2.35am, a resident in the area called the police, complaining that there had been shouting in the area for the past 30 minutes. Five minutes after the complaint was made, a police sergeant from Bishan Neighbourhood Police Centre who was on foot patrol spotted the group, and advised them to dispose of the remaining cans of beer.
They acknowledged and complied with the directions.
But Tan was prosecuted because it was his third violation. The first time, he was given an advisory, and the second time, he paid a composition fine.
Tan, who was not represented by a lawyer, told the court in Mandarin that he did not mean to break the law.
“It was the 15th day of Chinese New Year. I was on my way home and saw my friends. They told me to join them and I did so,” he said, through an interpreter.
“I was very frustrated with my family (as) I have financial problems, so I joined them for a drink ... I promise that I will not repeat this.”
Parliament passed the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act in January last year.
The law, which came into force in April last year, prohibits boozing in public places and retail sales of alcohol across Singapore between 10.30pm and 7am daily.
Two areas — Little India and parts of Geylang — are designated as Liquor Control Zones and are subjected to stricter alcohol control laws.
For example, drinking in public is not allowed from 7am on Saturdays through to 7am on Mondays. Shops are also not allowed to sell takeaway alcohol from 7pm on weekends.
Anyone drinking in public illegally can be fined up to S$1,000, and repeat offenders may be fined up to S$2,000 or jailed up to three months or both.
Shops selling alcohol after the permitted hours can be fined up to S$10,000.
The punishment is one-and-a-half times the respective penalties if anyone is found guilty of breaking the law in Liquor Control Zones.