Two establishments caught breaching licensing restrictions on sale of alcohol

[Untouchables]

Updated: 12/23/2013 22:47 | By Channel NewsAsia

Two establishments caught breaching licensing restrictions on sale of alcohol

SINGAPORE: Singapore police have said that two establishments in Little India have been found to have breached the licensing restrictions on the sale of alcohol on December 22.

In a statement on Monday evening, police said the breaches were detected during heightened police patrols in Little India to enforce the ban on alcohol consumption and the licensing restrictions on the sale of alcohol.

The first case was detected on Sunday at 12.46am.

Police came across a man carrying a can of unopened beer along Chander Road. He told the officers that he had purchased the can of beer from a shop along Chander Road.

The beer was seized as a case exhibit and the man's particulars were recorded to assist with follow-up investigations.

Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the proprietor of the outlet was believed to have sold the beer during the stipulated hours of the Suspension Notice on Sale of Intoxicating Liquor.

In the second incident, at 12.50am on Sunday, officers conducted a check at an eatery at Jalan Besar and found that it was serving alcohol.

Further checks revealed that the eatery does not have a valid licence for the sale of liquor. Police said they have seized the liquor found in the store.

In the statement, police said they are treating the two incidents "very seriously".

The statement said: "The sale of liquor under these circumstances is a blatant disregard for the law and the measures announced under the restricted regime. We will take strong action against the parties involved.

"Police will be proceeding with a view to charge them in court under Section 71(1) of the Customs Act, Cap 70, for selling intoxicating liquors without a valid licence. The police will also be suspending the licence of the shop along Chander Road shop until the conclusion of the court case."

In addition to the cases above, one person was also found drinking alcohol within the proclaimed area over the weekend.

He complied with the police warning to stop and police seized the alcohol in his possession. He will be issued with a police advisory.

The police statement also said liquor licence holders in Little India can expect stringent compliance checks to continue.

"The police would like to remind all licensees to comply fully with the restrictions imposed on the sale of alcohol in Little India. Those who fail to do so can expect tough licensing sanctions, in addition to being dealt with to the full extent of the law," the statement said. - CNA/ms