Parliament: Liquor incidents 'disproportionately' higher in Geylang and Little India

SINGAPORE - There is a 'disproportionate number of law and order incidents' in Little India and Geylang that are associated with liquor consumption, according to police's operational assessment.

About one-fifth of all rioting cases island-wide occur in these two areas and about 40 to 50 per cent of serious incidents in the areas are linked to liquor consumption.

This is about twice the national average, revealed Second Minister for Home Affairs S Iswaran during Parliament on Friday.

"The regular and large congregations of people, both local and foreign, in these areas exacerbate the risk," he said.

Mr Iswaran also explained that this is why Little India and Geylang will have stricter restrictions on the hours for the supply and consumption of liquor if the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Bill is passed.

Deemed Liquor Control Zones, restrictions will be similar to those applied in Little India following the riot in December 2013.

Liquor-related offences committed within the zones will result in a penalty of one and a half times that in non-designated areas, added Mr Iswaran.

klim@sph.com.sg