The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Singapore Police Force have reviewed the regulatory requirement for the supply of liquor at licensed premises.
With effect from 1 March 2023, liquor licensees will be required to display prominent notices within their licensed premises, to notify patrons of the permitted liquor trading hours.
No change in rules for liquor consumption at licensed premises
The current rules under Section 6(1) of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015 (“the Act”) allow liquor licensees to supply liquor only within their licensed premises and only during applicable liquor trading hours. Any licensee who supplies liquor and allows consumption of liquor outside the applicable liquor trading hours may be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
New requirement for licensees to display notices
Under Regulation 7A of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) (Liquor Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 2022, all Class 1A, Class 1B, Class 2A and Class 2B liquor licensees must display, legibly and in at least the English language, one or more notices within their licensed premises, containing the following information:
- the liquor trading hours applicable to the licensee;[1]
- that any supply or consumption of liquor within the licensed premises is not allowed outside of the liquor trading hours applicable to the licensee; and
- that any consumption of liquor within the licensed premises outside of the liquor trading hours applicable to the licensee may be an offence under Section 12(1) of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015 (see Para 7).
A breach of Regulation 7A of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) (Liquor Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 carries a fine of up to $10,000.
The Police have notified all Class 1A, Class 1B, Class 2A, and Class 2B liquor licensees of the new requirement.
Reminder on consumption of liquor at licensed premises
Members of the public are reminded that at licensed premises, liquor can only be consumed during the stipulated hours. Police will take action under Section 12(1) of the Act against patrons who claim ignorance of the liquor trading hours and are found drinking in the licensed premises after the liquor trading hours. Offenders may be liable to a fine of up to $1,000. Repeat offenders may be liable to face a fine of up to $2,000, to imprisonment of up to three months, or both.
[1] The trading hours applicable to the licensee under regulation 7A(a) shall include the different trading hours that apply to the licensee, in the event the Minister specifies by order in the Gazette under section 6(2) of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015, that different trading hours apply to the licensee.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
30 January 2023 @ 9:20 AM