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THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM IN
MALAYSIA
(By Mary Asunta with Mr Idris, President
Penang Consumer Association and Mr Hamid, President of
TERAS
From The Globe, Isuue 3-4, 2001)
I. Country
profile
Malaysia has a population of 22 million
with about 55 per cent of the population being urban and 45 per cent rural. The
Malaysian society is multi-ethnic comprising of Malays (55 per cent), Chinese
(32 per cent), Indians (8 per cent) and several other indigenous populations.
GNP per capita is US$3500 and GDP US$85b. The average distribution of labour
force by sector is agriculture – 26 per cent, industry – 28 per cent and
services 46 per cent. The adult literacy rate is total 80 per cent: male – 89
per cent and female – 72 per cent. Public expenditure on health is 1.3 per cent
of the GDP.
There are two main breweries, which are
located in or near the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Guinness Anchor Berhad is a
joint venture between Guinness and Asia Pacific Breweries of Singapore, itself a
joint venture with Heineken and a local soft drinks company. Carlsberg controls
the largest shares of Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia
Berhad.
We have an active local spirits industry
which produces approximately US$43.4 million (RM180million) worth of samsu, the
generic name for cheap spirits, per year. These drinks average 38 per cent
alcohol and are widely available illegally from outlets such as sundry shops and
private residences. The smallest bottle of samsu costs as little as US$0.36
(RM1.50).
Alcohol consumption and
prevalence
Malaysia, though a small country, is the
tenth largest consumer of alcohol in the world. Each year Malaysians spend over
US$500million on alcohol. Whilst the per capita consumption is 7 litres, those
who do drink alcohol consume heavily. Among the drinking population, the
Malaysian Indians who make up about 8 per cent of the population are by far the
heaviest drinkers with an annual consumption of absolute alcohol exceeding 14
litres. Beer consumption in Malaysia at 11 litres per capita is comparable to
that of European countries known for their high consumption. The easy
availability of alcoholic drinks in coffee shops, supermarkets, sundry shops and
plantations together with aggressive advertising and promotions are driving
Malaysians to drink. The average age for alcohol dependence is 22
years.
II. Alcohol advertising and
marketing
With the saturation of the American and
European markets alcohol companies are looking towards Asia and other developing
countries not just to expand their markets but also to set up production
facilities. Carlsberg AS of Denmark, the biggest brewer in the world, has its
largest market in Asia. It views Malaysia as a "very important and attractive
market". It has invested about US$20million to expand production by 25 per cent
to 125 million litres a year to cater for growing demands and exports. It has
about 65 per cent of the market share.
This year Carlsberg spent about
US$2million (RM7million) on just one advertising campaign to relaunch its
Carlsberg brand to "draw in the younger generation of drinkers". For the launch,
advertisements in the newspapers were placed to be redeemed for free tickets to
a preview of the new commercial and a special screening of the movie "Rush Hour
2." For the post-launch Carlsberg organised contests every week for one month
with prizes worth RM10, 000 to be won per week, attracting over 9,000
entries.
More teenagers in Malaysia are starting to drink alcoholic
beverages at an earlier age. 45 per cent of Malaysian youths under 18 consume
alcohol regularly. Of all the legal and illegal drugs, alcohol is by far the
most widely used by teenagers, and according to a national survey many are
regularly drinking to excess. END
(In the Chapter Al-Baqarah verse 219, Allah said, "They ask
thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin, and some profit,
for men; but the sin is greater than the profit." They ask thee how much they
are to spend; Say: "What is beyond your needs." Thus doth Allah Make clear to
you His Signs: In order that ye may
consider."
In the Chapter Al-Maidah verses 90 and 91, Allah said, "O ye
who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination
by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination),
that ye may prosper. Satan's plan
is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling,
and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: will ye not then
abstain?")
Contributed by Dr
Danial bin Zainal Abidin (M.B.Ch.B.
Alexandria)
Managing Director of Danial Zainal
Consultancy
Author of
Empayar Minda Muslim, 7 Formula
Individu Cemerlang, Kit Kombat
Islam.
///// MEDIA JIM: Memurnikan Tanggapan Umum Melalui Penyebaran Ilmu dan Maklumat
//////////////////////////////////
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