IF one is a smoker who is also a boozer, then probably he can tide over his alcoholic craving with a puff or two. Many a time, people who smoke are also consumers of alcoholic beverages.
But not always. As such, the clarification by Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Deputy Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid over prohibition on the sale of alcohol and liquor throughout the total lockdown period (June 1 to 14, if it is not extended) is bound to leave a bad taste among the non-smoking drinker fraternity.
Speaking to The Vibes news portal, Rosol confirmed that all business premises – not just liquor and wine stores – are barred from selling alcohol.
“Yes, they can’t be sold throughout this (full) movement control order (FMCO) period,” he told the news portal. “We are just following the standard operating procedures (SOPs) provided by the NSC (National Security Council). The Government has given the order, so we have to abide by it.”
By permitting the sale of cigarettes over liquor – even though both are not categorised as essential items – is glaringly an act of favouritism which grossly treats alcoholic consumers as step children.
All else being equal, it should be a case of either allowing both cigarettes and alcohol/liquor products to be sold side-by-side or banning both entirely lest the authorities are discriminating the rights of boozers even as it a well-known fact that excessive indulgence in both products are detrimental to health.
Interestingly, when asked to clarify why cigarettes are still up for sale while alcoholic beverages are not permitted Rasol made a deft-yet-discriminatory argument in favour of the smoker fraternity.
“Although they are non-essential under (the SOPs from the) NSC, they are still ‘essential’ to cigarette addicts,” he justified. “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 said.
Well, wouldn’t alcoholic consumers, too, having to endure similar ‘suffering’ if they are refrained from containing their addiction?
For the record, Malaysia in 2017 collected RM3.94 bil in sin tax from cigarettes and tobacco products compared to RM1.92 bil from alcoholic beverages.
Or are there other hidden reasons that the authorities are not openly revealing? – June 4, 2021
