KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Sin Chew Daily) — Beer supply in the local market is likely to be disrupted as two beer breweries have ceased operation since early June in compliance with the lockdown measures.

Huang Shou Qun, president of Malaysia Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors' General Association cum Pan-Malaysia Koo Soo Restaurants & Chefs Association, said beer is going to be out of stock soon.

In a statement, Huang said selling beer is another source of income for restaurant and coffee shop operators when the lockdown measures banned dine-in.

He said when the supply of beer runs out in the market, it would be another setback for restaurants and coffee shops as the operators could no longer rely on selling beer to earn some profits.

Huang said he received feedback from coffee shop and restaurant operators that they had limited stock for beer while some had already run out of stock. 

Xu Liang Biao, secretary of the Associated Liquor Merchant's Association of the Federation of Malaya said this would be the first time breweries, dealers and retailers faced the dilemma of not having liquor, especially beer, to sell.

He said the liquor drought was caused by the lockdown measures and the government's unclear policies on liquor sale.

"This is the first time for us to experience liquor drought," he said.

Xu, who is also the secretary of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Liquor Merchants Association, said such situation existed for some time.

He cautioned that if the government did not take a serious view on the matter to seek a solution, the liquor industry would suffer negative setback and the tax revenue of the government would be affected too. 

Xu said members of the association were dealers and wholesale suppliers of various types of liquors and beers.

Many of them constantly face the issue of supply shortage.

"They do not have enough stock to supply to supermarkets, restaurants, convenience outlets, sundry shops and others," Xu said.

Xu also hoped elected representatives would step in to offer assistance to liquor merchants.