No alcohol sale during lockdown, cigarettes allowed for addicts - deputy minister

 

The sale of alcoholic beverages is banned at all premises during the current "total lockdown" period as it is not an essential item, said Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Rosol Wahid.

However, he said cigarettes - while also not an essential good - can still be sold to avoid "problems" with addicts.

This is after confusion arose on whether hypermarkets and grocers could sell alcoholic beverages, following a move by the police to shut down a liquor store in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

There were also reports that hypermarkets in Kuala Lumpur were allegedly told to stop the sale of alcohol.

Speaking to The Vibes, Rosol said all premises were not allowed to sell alcohol, and that this was part of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) from the National Security Council (NSC).

He added that the sale of all other non-essential items was also prohibited.

However, Rosol made an exception for cigarettes.

“Although they are non-essential under (the SOPs from the) NSC, they are still ‘essential’ to cigarette addicts.

“We can’t stop its sale, otherwise there will be problems. Only smokers will understand. Without cigarettes, it will be a huge burden for them,” he was quoted as saying.

He added that cigarettes were not on the negative list provided by the NSC.

However, the NSC negative list only specifically prohibits liquor shops and factories from operating, not the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said there was no ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages specifically, citing convenience stores like 7-11 as an example. - Mkini