Establishments close shop, cut staff on duty due to ban

SINGAPORE — Cutting back on the number of staff on duty, creating special mocktails and covering refrigerators displaying alcoholic drinks — these were just some of the measures adopted by the establishments selling liquor in preparation for the alcohol ban in Little India this weekend.

From 6am today until 6am on Monday, Little India and its vicinity will be declared a “proclaimed area” under the Public Order (Preservation) Act, which will allow police officers to take action against anyone consuming alcohol in a public place within the vicinity, including seizing their bottles of liquor. Likewise, a blanket ban on the sale of alcohol will also be imposed at 374 establishments during this period.

Among the eight liquor stores TODAY spoke to yesterday, half of these shops along Race Course Road and Chander Road have already decided to close for the weekend.

“We plan to close our shop this Saturday and Sunday because we sell (mostly) alcohol here and nobody walks by now,” said shop assistant Mr Balan Kabilan, 34, at Moonshine Enterprises along Chander Road.

Likewise, shop owner Kailasam Sadhasivam, 40, decided to close his store Arasi Trading this weekend. The police, he said, came by yesterday evening with a letter reminding shop owners of the ban.

Others, like provision store Pamban Trading along Race Course Road will continue operating through the weekend, but will cover the glass fridge doors with wrapping paper to conceal the alcoholic drinks. Proprietor Rem Suresh, 38, said alcohol sales make up about 40 per cent of his profits.

At The Countryside Cafe along Dunlop Street, owner Mr Krishna Kumar, 58, said he will halve the number of service staff working at his bar to only four this weekend. “Almost every customer comes here to have a drink,” said Mr Kumar. The bar is expecting losses of around S$4,000 this weekend with the alcohol ban.

Yesterday, even before the ban took effect, Zsofi Tapas Bar was already feeling the pinch. “On Fridays, it’s usually crowded, but you see a lot (of people) are not (walking around) here today,” said Director Ajay Maddila.

Backpacker hostel — Footprints Hostel — along Perak Road has put up notices on its fridge and outdoor terrace to inform their guests of the ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol this weekend. Manager Christina Phang added that as a precaution, they will lock their fridge for the ban’s duration.

A guest at Bellwethers yesterday evening, who only wanted to be known as Valerie T, felt the ban was overkill. The ban need not be extended to pubs and bars as long as shop-owners exercise “discretion” when selling the alcohol to customers, she said.

The Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association will be setting up the Little India Service Centre to address stakeholders’ concerns over the riot and the alcohol ban. It plans to compile feedback and suggestions for consideration by relevant authorities.