SHAH ALAM - The issue of drunk driving remains a significant concern in Malaysia.
While ride-sharing services have helped reduce incidents, a more comprehensive approach was needed to address this problem.
Malaysian Public Transport Users Association (4PAM) president Ajit Joh said to counteract these issues, bars and the beverage industry could play a proactive role.
"The beverage industry needs to come together and work hand-in-hand with rideshare drivers.
"From rideshare companies to beverage brands and bar operators, all players should sit down together on a platform to find a way forward.
"4PAM is happy to mediate and bring everyone together on a single platform, so we can openly discuss how to work this out," he told Sinar Daily during a Fireside Chat interview.
He said working together can help prevent impaired driving incidents and create safer nights out for everyone involved.
Ajit emphasised that education and awareness can significantly help mitigate and reduce such incidents, noting their essential role in promoting safety.
He said education and awareness were essential to tackle not only alcohol-related driving incidents but also those involving substance abuse.
Ajit said substance use outside of bars, such as in private homes, posed a unique challenge, as these individuals may choose to drive under the influence without supervision.
"That, to me, is even more dangerous. Surveys from a few years ago showed rising substance abuse among middle-class managers, which is especially alarming if these individuals are behind the wheel.
"Education and awareness are crucial and operators need to come together to find a solution," he said.
Ajit highlighted that in some countries, bartenders were required to stop serving patrons who appeared visibly intoxicated and may even be obligated to notify authorities if a patron insisted on driving.
He added that this approach shifted some responsibility onto the bar, thereby helping to reduce incidents of drunk driving.
He recommended that Malaysia could benefit from implementing similar regulations, encouraging bartenders and bar owners to take an active role in preventing intoxicated patrons from driving.
"A simple solution like this requires people to come together and start thinking collaboratively to make it happen," he added.
He called for a joint effort from bars, rideshare services and regulators, coupled with public education on responsible consumption.
This, he said could significantly curb incidents of impaired driving.