No tainted booze sold in Sarawak so far, says Health Dept

KUCHING: All liquor on sale in Sarawak have so far been found to be methanol-free, according to the Health Department.

Its deputy director for food safety and quality Mohd Jefri Crossley said samples collected and analysed during a state-wide inspection two weeks ago found none to be contaminated.

“The operation on Oct 20 saw more than 1,000 checks carried out on premises selling liquor in rural and urban areas across Sarawak.

“From our analyses, no sample of any brand was found to have been tainted with or contained methanol,” he said the presentation of Clean, Safe and Healthy ( Bess) certificates to operators of food premises here yesterday.

Mohd Jefri also said there has been no reported case of liquor poisoning in Sarawak to date.

According to him, the operation conducted by the department also focused on enforcing two new laws – the age limit to purchase alcoholic beverages and the display of cautionary signs and labels at premises selling such beverages.

As of Oct 16, the government raised the minimum age to purchase alcohol from 18 to 21, with retailers also required to display warning signs that read ‘Drinking Alcohol Can Endanger Health’ in their premises as well as on the label of alcoholic drinks.

Such beverages for sale must also be exhibited in cabinets or racks separate from other displays.