For the life of me, I fail to understand those who criticise local council laws that bar the consumption of alcohol in public places, especially parks and other recreational areas. It is indeed shocking to see some netizens describing the move as being racist.

True, a non-Muslim has the constitutional right to drink alcohol at a place of their choice but it does not end there. It’s also a basic right of others to enjoy some peace, quiet and decency in public places, where safety is important.

No one, irrespective of their religious background, should be denied a safe and decent environment. In my opinion, the bar has nothing to do with religion, it’s all about decency and negative influence on youths. I would support any move for a national law on this.

Many critics say the move by the Negeri Sembilan government to enforce this law in public parks and beaches is not supported by non-Muslims. This is absolute nonsense as many non-Muslims, too, are in favour of this ban.

No one can deny that alcohol does impair one’s actions and thoughts if the amount consumed is a bit too much. Actually, even two glasses of beer is good enough to make one boisterous and ignore the discomfort felt by others in their midst. The amount consumed has a different impact on different people, depending on their threshold.

All Malaysians, irrespective of their religious beliefs, should stop looking at this move with a race-tinted lens. Instead, they should think of it as a step that could stop their own children from being encouraged to pick up the drinking habit, one which has absolutely no benefit.

Excessive consumption, which begins mostly from casual drinking, could lead to destruction of the family unit and bring about untold sufferings as we have read and seen.

If you need to have a drink, the authorities cannot stop you from consuming alcohol in private places like homes, licensed outlets and other areas where drinking is not prohibited.

Some netizens argued that smoking should also be banned in public parks and recreational areas. Well, it has been banned in most such areas. The only problem is that it has not been enforced strictly.

Public safety

One of the primary dangers associated with consuming alcohol in public areas is the potential for increased incidents of public disorder. The result is that these areas often become sites of disruptive behavior, including littering and vandalism. In some cases, they result in violence.

We have seen and read enough reports to show that overindulgence in alcohol has resulted in violence that caused grievous injuries and even deaths in some cases. These disturbances affect families and children who frequent these spaces.

The lack of specific laws against drinking in public means that enforcement relies on general nuisance laws, which can be insufficient to deter such behavior. And we have seen quite a bit of this.

As expected, some linked this to rising Islamism in the country but I beg to differ. No religion encourages you to get intoxicated through the use of alcohol or drugs. It’s just not our culture.

Social implications

Drinking in public obviously clashes with the values of Malaysia’s predominantly Muslim population, where alcohol consumption is outlawed in accordance with shariah laws. While non-Muslims are permitted to drink, public displays of drunkenness can be seen as disrespectful and may lead to social tensions.

The etiquette surrounding alcohol consumption in Malaysia suggests that drinking in public places is inappropriate, particularly in conservative areas. This has the potential to lead to cultural and racial conflicts too.

So barring alcohol consumption in public places is not a step backward for the rights of non-Muslims but it can instead be seen as a move to prevent ugly incidents that can affect unity.

Health risks

The health implications of public drinking are also significant. Malaysia has seen a high prevalence of binge drinking, with studies indicating that many drinkers engage in binge drinking behaviour.

This pattern of consumption can lead to various health issues, including alcohol-related accidents and long-term health problems such as liver disease and mental health disorders.

The normalisation of drinking in public spaces may exacerbate these issues, particularly among younger individuals who may be more susceptible to peer pressure and risky drinking behaviour.

Such actions will be misconstrued by the young minds that drinking is okay, at an age when they are too young to understand the long-term dangers and impact of picking up the habit which can get out of control if one is irresponsible.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.