10. Singapore Police Force (SPF)

SPF has implemented Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act with effect from 1st April 2015 onwards. From 1 April 2015, consumption of liquor in public places will be restricted daily from 10.30 pm to 7.00 am. The following events are exempted from a Consumption Permit:

• Consumption of liquor during events organised by the government;
• Consumption of liquor during events organised by Statutory Boards for a public purpose; and

Consumption of liquor by persons attending a barbeque in the immediate vicinity of a barbeque pit in a national park for which a Permit has been granted under the Parks and Trees Act (Cap. 216).

Liquor License

Under the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act, you will need to apply for a liquor licence from Police Licensing & Regulatory Department if your company/business/society intends to supply any liquor for sale, barter or exchange.

Under Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) (Liquor Licensing) Regulations:

• Supply is by retail if the supply is for less than 30 litres of liquor (whether of a single type or a combination of 2 or more types); and
• Supply is by wholesale if the supply is to a liquor licensee of any quantity of liquor(whether of a single type or a combination of 2 or more types) or to any person for 30 litres or more of liquor (whether of a single type or a combination of 2 or more types)

SPF has restricted the issuance of the Cat 1 licence since April 2015 with the new Liquor Control Act. There will no longer be new Cat 1 licence which allows consumption till 3am with the new Act in place. The new categories of liquor licences are as below:

• Class 1A for the supply of liquor for consumption at the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence, which licence specifies any trading hours from 0600hrs to immediately before midnight.
• Class 1B for the supply of liquor for consumption at the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence, which licence specifies any trading hours from 0600hrs to 2200hrs.
• Class 2A for the supply of beer only for consumption at the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence, which licence specifies any trading hours from 0600 to immediately before midnight.
• Class 2B for the supply of beer only for consumption at licensed premises, trading hours as indicated on licence.
• Class 3A for the supply by retail of liquor for consumption at premises other than the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence, which licence specifies any trading hours from 0700hrs to 2230hrs.
• Class 3B licence for the supply by retail of beer for consumption at premises other than the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence, which licence specifies any trading hours from 0700hrs to immediately before 2230hrs.
• Class 4 licence for supply by wholesale of liquor for consumption at premises other than the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence, which licence specifies any trading hours from 0700hrs to immediately before 2230hrs.
• Class 5 licence for a temporary licence where licence is required for a short period of time, such as once-off events and exhibitions. Class 5 licence can be applied for a specified time period of not more than 30 consecutive days.

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Touting

According to the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act (CHAPTER 184) Part V 32. Touting for Business states that;

Any person in any public road, public place, place of public resort or vehicle on a public road who, in connection with any trade or business (whether or not carried on by that person), solicits any other person persistently or in any manner as to cause or be likely to cause annoyance to that other person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine of not less than $2,000 and not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both.

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EXTENSION OF POLICY CHANGES FOR PERMISSION FOR NEW PUBS, BARS AND NIGHTCLUBS AND LIQUOR LICENCING HOURS AT BOAT QUAY HISTORIC DISTRICT AND UPPER CIRCULAR CONSERVATION AREA (SINGAPORE RIVER PLANNING AREA)

In Dec 2009, the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) introduced policies to manage unruly and undesirable behaviour in the Boat Quay and Upper Circular Road Conservation Areas (see location plan in Annex 1). They included:

• Limiting the liquor licensing hours to 3am (the following day) on Sundays and weekdays and to 4am (the following day) on Saturdays and Eve of Public Holidays. The affected outlets can still operate 24 hours a day but may not supply any liquor beyond the permitted licensing hours; and
• Limiting new permits for pubs and nightclubs. Existing pubs and nightclubs can continue to operate, and agencies will consider the renewal of permits if the pubs or nightclubs have a good track-record in managing its liquor servicing hours and customers’ behaviour.

The policies aim to ensure that the two areas remain attractive to visitors. As a result of their introduction, in conjunction with continuous enforcement efforts by the agencies, the number of undesirable incidents arising from excessive drinking in these areas has reduced.

To continue to manage the situation within the Boat Quay and Upper Circular Conservation Areas, the agencies have decided to retain the two policies, limiting new permits for pubs and nightclubs and restricting the liquor licensing hours for another year, from 1 Dec 2016 to 30 Nov 2017. They will review the policies periodically to ensure they remain relevant.