A Study of Laws Related to Alcoholic Beverages in Malaysia: The Conflict Between Individual Rights and Public Interest
Abstract
This study discusses laws related to liquor in Malaysia based on individual rights and public interest. Although Malaysia has its liquor laws. The law has not fully succeeded in reducing damaged caused by alcohol consumption. In 2020, deaths caused by drunken drivers increased, leading to amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987. However, these amendments are ineffective as there still seem to be alcohol-related offences and addiction happening in Malaysia. This study aims to: (i) identify the legal provisions related to liquor in Malaysia; (ii) identify human rights issues arising from liquor-related laws in Malaysia; (iii) analyze the legal approaches taken by Norway to curb alcohol-related issues; and (iv) propose legal improvements to control the consumption and sale of liquor in Malaysia. To achieve these objectives, this study uses a pure and qualitative doctrinal legal approach. Information for this study was obtained from statutes, and legal cases as primary sources. The results of this study indicate that amendments need to be made to the law so it is stringent as well as creating a license policy and criminal justice policy in the laws related to drinking alcohol. Therefore, this study will put forward some suggestions to improve liquor-related laws so that it is more effective in reducing related cases in the future.
Keywords: Liquor, alcohol, laws, human rights, public interests, Malaysia
References
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Akta Alkohol (Penjualan Minuman Alkohol) 1989.
Akta Eksais 1976 dan Peraturan-peraturan Akta 176. (2023). MDC Publisher Sdn. Bhd.
Akta Polis 1967 (Akta 344).
Ardiah Jamali, Zaidah Mustapha & Rokiah Ismail. (2009). Pola dan faktor yang mempengaruhi peminuman minuman keras remaja Dusun Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 5(2), 82–101.
Are Singapore’s alcohol laws too strict or too relaxed. (2016). The Cabin Singapore. https://www.thecabinsingapore.com.sg/blog/alcohol-addiction-treatment/singapores-alcohol-laws-too-strict-or-need-more-tightening/
Austin, J. (2000). The province of jurisprudence determined. Dalam J. Arthur & W. H. Shaw (Eds.), Reading in philosophy of law (117–123). Prentice Hall.
Babor, T. F., Caetano, R., Casswell, S., Edwards, G., Giesbrecht, N., Graham, K., Grube, J. W., Hill, L., Holder, H., Homel, H., Livingston, M., Österberg, E., Rehm, J., Room, R., & Rossow, R. (2003). Alcohol: No ordinary commodity: Research and public policy (1–11). Oxford University Press.
Bertholet, N., Daeppen, J. B., Wietlisbach, V., Fleming, M., & Burnand, B. (2005). Reduction of alcohol consumption by brief alcohol intervention in primary care: Systematic review and meta-analysis (986–995). Arch Intern Med.
Blose, J. O., & Holder, H. D. (1987). Liquor-by-the-drink and alcohol-related traffic crashes: A natural experiment using time-series analysis. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 48(1), 52–60.
Branda, L. T., MacDonald, E., Veneti, L., Ravlo, T., Lange, H., Naseer, U., Feruglio, S., Bragstad, K., Hungnes, O., Ødeskaug, L. E., Hagen, F., Hanch-Hansen, K. E., Lind, A., Watle, S. V., Taxt, A. M., Johansen, M., Vold, L., Aavitsland, P., Nygård, K., & Madslien, E. H. (2021). Outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Norway, November to December 2021. Eurosurveillance, 26(50), 4–8.
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Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) 1995.
Dill, P. L., & Wells-Parker, E. (2006). Court-mandated treatment for convicted drinking drivers. Alcohol Research and Health, 29(1), 41–48.
Dworkin, R. (2000). The model of rules. Dalam J. Arthur & W. H. Shaw (Eds.), Reading in philosophy of law (160—170). Prentice Hall.
Ferguson, L., Tarantola, D., Hoffmann, M., & Gruskin, S. (2017). Non-communicable diseases and human rights: Global synergies, gaps and opportunities. Global Public Health, 12(10), 1200–1227. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2016.1158847
Han Feizi. (1996). Completed works of teachers. Unity Publishing House, 5, 141–310.
https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/312318/WHO-MSD-MSB-18.2-eng.pdf?sequence=1&ua=1
Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia. (2020). Tinjauan kesihatan dan morbiditi kebangsaan: Penyakit tidak berjangkit, penjagaan kesihatan dan literasi kesihatan. https://iku.nih.gov.my/nhms-2019
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Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia. (t.t) Pelan Strategik JPJ 2016–2020. https://www.jpj.gov.my/web/main-site/penerbitan/-/knowledge_base/penerbitan/pelan-strategik-jpj-2016-2020
Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat. (t.t). Konvensyen mengenai Hak Kanak-kanak. https://www.kpwkm.gov.my/kpwkm/index.php?r=portal/left3&id=MWUrNGVSZ3ljeXFQRWhlKzJ6SitsZz09
Khairul Azhar Meerangani, Syamsul Azizul Marinsah, Muhamad Asyraf Ahmad Termimi, Muhammad Ikhlas Rosele & Rahimin Affandi Abdul Rahim. (2013). Hak asasi bukan muslim di Malaysia: Analisis isu terpilih. International Seminar on Islamic Jurisprudence in Contemporary Society 2013, 552–565.
Ku Seman Ku Hussain. (2021). Arak: Hak majoriti dinafikan. Utusan Malaysia. https://www.utusan.com.my/rencana/2021/10/arak-hak-majoriti-dinafikan/#%3A~%3Atext%3DPihak%20yang%20minoriti%20perlu%20mengikut%20suara%20majoriti.%20Bagaimanapun%2C%2Ctetapi%20hak%20majoriti%20yang%20menolak%20arak%20telah%20dinafikan
Legarre, S. (2017). HLA Hart and the making of the new natural law theory Jurisprudende. An International Journal of Legal and Political Thought, 8(1), 82–98.
Manzaidi Mohd Amin. (2021, 8 Julai). PGA patah cubaan seludup arak tidak bercukai RM1.65 juta. MalaysiaGazette. https://malaysiagazette.com/2021/07/08/pga-patah-cubaan-seludup-arak-tidak-bercukai-rm1-65-juta/#google_vignette
Mohammad Khairil Ashraf Mohd Khalid. (2021, 6 Disember). Hilang cukai RM281.69 juta akibat penyeludupan rokok, minuman keras. Sinar Harian. https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/176302/BERITA/Nasional/Hilang-cukai-RM28169-juta-akibat-penyeludupan-rokok-minuman-keras
Muhammad Aminnuraliff. (2022, 13 April). Elak arak dirampas, penyeludup campur barang lain. Sinar Harian. https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/197787/BERITA/Semasa/Elak-arak-dirampas-penyeludup-campur-barang-lain
Perjanjian Antarabangsa mengenai Hak Ekonomi, Sosial dan Budaya (ICESCR). (1966). General Assembly Resiolution 2200A (XXI). https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-economic-social-and-cultural-rights
Public Prosecutor lwn Chew Jing Zhong [2020] MLJU 672
Olivia Chong Oi Yun lwn Public Prosecutor [2020] 10 MLJ 19
Raja Noraina Raja Rahim. (2021, 3 Mei). Langgar SOP, jual arak tanpa lesen. MyMetro. https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2021/05/701773/langgar-sop-jual-arak-tanpa-lesen
Rossow, I. (2021). The alcohol advertising ban in Norway: Effects on recorded alcohol sales. Drug Alcohol Rev, 40(7), 1392–1395. Doi: 10.1111/dar.13289.
Rubini Nagarajah. (2022, 5 Mac). Jual arak tanpa lesen, 4 lelaki ditahan.
Getaran.my. https://www.getaran.my/artikel/semasa/20247/jual-arak-tanpa-lesen-4-lelaki-ditahan
Thomas Aquinas. (t.t.). Natural Law. https://opentextbc.ca/ethicsinlawenforcement/chapter/natural-law/#:~:text=Natural%20law%20was%20espoused%20by,way%20to%20make%20ethical%20choices.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948.
Voas, R., & Fell, J. (2010). Preventing alcohol-related problems through health. Alcohol Research and Health, 33(1–2),18–28.
Widmark, E. M. P. (1932). Principles and applications of medicolegal alcohol determination. Biomedical Publications.
World Health Organization. (2007). Second report: WHO expert committee on problems related to alcohol consumption. https://www.who.int/publications/
i/item/9789241209441
World Health Organization. (2011). Global status report on alcohol and health 2011. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/global-status-report-onalcohol-
and-health-2011
World Health Organization. (2014). Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2014. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/global-status-report-on-alcohol-
and-health-2014
World Health Organization. (2018a). Global status report on alcohol and health 2018. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241565639
World Health Organization. (2018b). SAFER: Preventing and reducing alcohol-r
elated harms. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/alcohol/safer-
framework.pdf
World Health Organization. (2021). Global alcohol action plan 2022-2030 to strengthen implementation of the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/alcohol/action-plan-on-alcohol_first-draft-final_formatted.pdf?sfvrsn=b690edb0_1&download=true
Yamin, A. E., & Constantin, A. (2018). A long and winding road: The evolution of applying human rights frameworks to health. Georgetown Journal of International Law, 49, 191–239.
Published
2024-07-19
How to Cite
GANESAN, Saranya A/P; NORDIN, Rohaida.
A Study of Laws Related to Alcoholic Beverages in Malaysia: The Conflict Between Individual Rights and Public Interest.
Kanun: Jurnal Undang-undang Malaysia, [S.l.], v. 36, n. 2, p. 279-306, july 2024.
ISSN 2682-8057.
Available at: <https://jurnal.dbp.my/index.php/Kanun/article/view/8892>. Date accessed: 21 dec. 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.37052/kanun.36(2)no6.
Section
Articles
