Following the incident where alcoholic beverages were served at the Global Travel Meet 2025 (GTM 2025) gala dinner, a researcher from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) Faculty of Medicine is questioning whether Malaysia should be more open to alcohol to attract foreign tourists and establish diplomatic relations.
“Is it true that the tourism sector will be affected if we are strict and firm on alcohol?”
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Strict laws on alcohol would encourage tourism, says researcher
In an article published by Berita Harian, the researcher, Dr Siti Norain Azahar, shared a study published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health that confirmed that strict laws on the access and sale of alcohol with the aim of curbing its harm would encourage tourism, rather than posing a threat.
“Before this, many Australians believed that the tourism sector would be affected if alcoholic beverages were banned from being sold widely. However, on the contrary, the number of tourists was found to be increasing in Australian cities that have tightened alcohol sales, including two popular tourist destinations, namely Kimberley and Goldfields,” Dr Siti Norain explained.
This is apparently due to the role of alcohol in crimes, as many tourists in Australia allegedly feel safer if alcohol is controlled, especially female tourists and the elderly.
“They believe that alcohol-related crimes can affect tourism activities, in addition to tarnishing the reputation of the tourist destination itself.”
Qatar is another example
Dr Siti Norain also cited Qatar as another example, as the country made the decision to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages in stadiums during the 2022 World Cup, in an effort to create a safe atmosphere for spectators, as compared to London during the Euro 2020 Finals, where fans of opposite football teams clashed violently.
“It also made the sports games in Qatar more family-friendly and safe for women and children to attend. This is because controlling alcohol can prevent incidents of violence or hooliganism, which commonly occur when there is provocation and fighting,”
“The situation in Qatar is in stark contrast to the tragedy of the riots during the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium, London. This life-threatening incident occurred because fanatical England fans caused disturbances and chaos. Official reports also found that alcohol and drug consumption were major contributing factors to the violence,” she added.
The researcher also mentioned that China, too, enforced a ban on alcohol, cigarettes and lavish meals being served at government functions. However, China did so to curb waste, corruption and excessive luxury among government employees, as lavish alcoholic meals are one of the ways to bribe government employees there.
The 47th ASEAN Summit
Dr Siti Norain believes that the claim of openness and relaxation on alcohol can boost the tourism sector and diplomatic relations is untrue, and that Malaysia, as the world’s Halal hub and sharia-compliant tourism, should be upheld to avoid the country’s reputation from being tarnished.
She added that the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, which will be attended by United States (US) President Donald Trump, should refrain from serving alcohol as the US President hates alcohol due to his brother, Fred Trump Jr, dying at a young age from a heart attack from alcohol addiction.
Besides Donald Trump, Joe Biden, George W Bush, Rutherford Hayes and Benjamin Harrison are also among the US presidents who have avoided drinking alcohol.
“If the high-powered leaders in the White House can make the wise choice not to drink alcohol, and the Chinese government also prohibits alcohol from being served at their official functions, then Malaysia, as a model MADANI country, should set a better example to the world,”
“The issue of alcohol is not only about religion and morality, but it also involves the interest of health, sanity, security, socio-economic and universal well-being.”
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