KUALA LUMPUR: The public is permitted to keep liquor at home for personal consumption without a licence, provided it is duty-paid, says the Customs department.
In a statement on Thursday night (Aug 28), the department said the public was not required to keep records when purchasing duty-paid liquor from licensed outlets for personal consumption.
“The requirement to keep records for seven years applies to licence holders, importers and exporters.
“In terms of liquor stored for personal consumption, there is no limit on the number of bottles specified under the department’s administrative law,” the statement said.
The department also stated that it conducted raids on 55 cases of uncustomed liquor stored in private residences across the country from January to July this year, with seizures worth RM1.42mil and an estimated tax of RM4.02mil.
It said that enforcement actions, including raids, were not conducted arbitrarily but were based on intelligence or public complaints indicating a violation of the law.
“There have been cases of individuals storing liquor at home for business purposes. Investigations by the department confirmed that the duty or tax on the liquor had not been paid,” it said, adding that enforcement actions were taken under the Excise Act 1976 and the Customs Act 1967.
Meanwhile, the statement said the department recorded 599 cases of untaxed liquor seizures, involving goods worth RM24.29mil and tax amounting to RM62.62mil. – Bernama
