GEORGE TOWN: The government has been told not to allow the sale of ‘non-alcoholic malt beverages’ because they are a gateway to alcohol consumption by youths.
Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) acting president Mohideen Abdul Kader said they were highly sceptical when Heineken Malaysia Bhd announced in June that it would be launching the Heineken 0.0 non-alcoholic malt beverage this month.
The company was planning to sell the product in 14 markets across Europe, Russia, and Israel.
According to Mohideen, although Heineken said that it was going to tap the global trend of moderate alcohol consumption, where a non-alcoholic beverage could now be enjoyed, CAP thinks otherwise.
“The non-alcoholic malt beverage is not completely free from alcohol as it is stated on its label in small print that it contains "NOT MORE THAN ALC. 0.005% VOL.” as we are made to believe. Also, it is bottled in the same green bottle as the normal Heineken beer.
“Beverages that taste and look like beer can be a way to ‘coax’ people to switch to beers over time. Youths may initially drink non-alcoholic beverages and later venture into real beer to experience the ‘kick’ of the alcohol content.
“This is contrary to the belief that people would switch to ‘0.0’ to stay sober for the drive home or to abstain from alcohol yet in the company of drinkers.
“As such, we urge the government not to allow the sale of non-alcoholic malt beverages because they are a gateway to alcohol consumption by youths,” he said today.
On Saturday, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) had issued a statement stating that the soft drink was made from the same process of making alcoholic drinks and Muslims were prohibited from consuming the drink.
On Sunday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said beer manufacturers in the country had been told not to confuse consumers, especially Muslims, by producing an alcohol-free drink.
Heineken has since clarified that the sale of its new non-alcoholic malt beverage, Heineken 0.0, was aimed only at non-Muslim consumers.
Elaborating, Mohideen said despite Heineken's new product, people would continue going to pubs to consume alcohol.
He said the malt beverages’ recommended price was RM9 for 250ml, which was pricier than a regular 325ml beer.
“With the price, how can the manufacturer convince everybody that the malt beverage is going to convert drinkers?” he asked.