Parliament: 47 cases of rioting linked to liquor consumption

Parliament: 47 cases of rioting linked to liquor consumption

SINGAPORE - Second Minister for Home Affairs S Iswaran revealed during Parliament on Friday that there was one rioting incident and two cases of serious hurt each week that was related to alcohol consumption.

Explaining the need for tougher laws on public drinking and the retail sale of alcohol, he revealed that 47 cases of rioting that occurred last year were linked to the consumption of liquor.

In addition, there are about 115 cases of serious hurt that were also linked to consumption of liquor.

These cases include stabbing, cutting using dangerous weapons, and inflicting severe bodily pain on victims.

Mr Iswaran also noted that the trend was on the rise.

"These incidents occurred across the island, with 9 out of 10 occurring after 10.30pm," said Mr Iswaran.

He also added that it was "not attributable to any one nationality" and foreigners are not disproportionately represented in these statistics.

"Singaporeans are also implicated in many of these incidents," said Mr Iswaran.

Also, over the last three years, there was an average of 530 cases of persons found to be drunk and incapable in public places.

"These numbers do not take into account the many cases of noise and other disturabances arising from liquor consumption, which often go unreported," he said, adding that these numbers do not "fully capture the inconveniences and sense of insecurity that affected residents have had to live with".

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klim@sph.com.sg

 

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