I always feel that alcohol in Malaysia is so expensive,
but because we’re USED to the prices,
we continue paying for it.

Everytime i travel, i feel like drinking is cheap.

Because it IS cheaper everywhere else in the world!
Even with the currency exchange, buying myself a drink in another city is cheaper than KL.
Barcelona, New York, London, Amsterdam, even Copenhagen (where everything else is so expensive!), drinking is around the same price as KL’s, or lower.

That never made much sense to me… cos the people there are already EARNING in their own currency,
so paying for drinks in respective currency makes it affordable.

Just earlier this week, a group on Facebook was formed, called:

Alcohol-Consumer-Rights Group Malaysia

[Info from FB]

For too long, responsible consumers of alcohol beverages in Malaysia have been subject to one of the highest prices on the planet for drinks, whether on-trade (outlets) or off-trade (retail).

Although we contribute BILLIONS to the economy EVERY YEAR (and more than $1 BILLION/year to the government via alcohol taxes), there is not a single association or body that protects the fundamental rights of these consumers and drinkers. This group plans to change that.

We will speak out whenever it’s needed, by communicating with the media, and the all the stakeholders in the alcohol industry in Malaysia. In the future, we might consider formalizing this consumer association.

Currently, the high prices consumers face causes them to burn holes in their pockets, even for casual and irregular drinkers.

Taxes, and F&B outlet’s prices should be lowered, or at the worst, maintained. Recent talk about increasing the tax even further, has to be opposed.

Reasons:

1. We already pay HUGE duties and taxes on EVERY glass that we drink. It’s unjustified and very expensive at the moment compared to any other country in the region.
We already have the SECOND HIGHEST duty on alcohol in the world, after Norway, BUT Norway has higher income of 8-9 times compared with Malaysia! Which means Malaysians probably pay the MOST for booze in the world.

2. The per-capita income for Malaysians is still so low and yet we still need to pay for premium prices for normal drinks. Eg: Local beer at a bar costs between $10 – $20, and imported beer $15 – $30.
In most countries, beer and soft drinks are about the same price-wise. Even tourists complain of the prices here.

3. High prices cause Malaysians to drink cheap and dangerous backyard brews like samsu, because they have been priced-out of the market for normal, safe alcohol.
Many local producers don’t have any safety standards or quality checks.

4. High prices also lead people to substitute alcohol for drugs. Drugs like ecstasy, erimin and such are widely available. Because of expensive alcohol, these drugs provide intoxication for much better value-for-money.

5. The government does not do studies on the impact of the prices. By increasing the duty, many F&B outlets that survive on volume will be greatly effected as less people will drink.
Even worse, some outlets will be forced to shut down. That will further reduce the employment in the market.

6. Smuggling and related illegal activities are very high in Malaysia due to the ridiculous taxes. Legitimate importers lose out. Also smuggled products are often fake or expired.

7. The MAJORITY of Malaysians are responsible and social drinkers. However, any concern about the effects of becoming an alcoholic should be addressed via education, not MORE taxes. Eg: If motorcyclists are killed on the road, you dont solve the problem by banning motorcycles.

8. The government should give out legal brewing licenses to serious investors so that they can monitor the industry, rather then just stopping brewing licenses to limit the capacity.
Eg: Many foreigners are tempted to open microbreweries in Malaysia but because of the restriction of license, many have turned away to neighbouring countries like Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.
We miss out legitimate and tourist-attracting businesses to our neighbours.

THUS, we Malaysians call upon the government, importers, distributors and F&B outlets to attend to the unsustainable situation Malaysian consumers face, and make sincere and effective efforts to price alcohol beverages at a lot more reasonable levels, in accordance with the public’s per-capita income.

This group is also to PROMOTE & ENCOURAGE reasonably-priced outlets, and discourage those that are over-priced. So feel free to post info about this.

Alcohol consumers make up a BIG-SPENDING AND SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS, TAX-PAYERS, AND VOTERS, and can be an influential force when needed, so take note.

+ + +

In just a few days, over 1,000 people have already joined the group to show their support.

If you’re in Malaysia, and you purchase alcoholic drinks
do *join the Facebook group here*

Power in the numbers.

Also, please sign this petition to reduce the high taxes of alcohol in Malaysia.
It’s really easy as it also allows you to sign via your FB or Twitter account (no fuss!)
This petition will be submitted to the ministry next week, as there will be a budget announcement the following Friday (more expensive alcohol again?!)

Signing the petition will be your first step as a consumer.
There is already a team working on a media conference and getting in touch with the ministry,
so all you have to do is sign!

Else make sure you never whine about the price of drinks in Malaysia again.

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