Malaysia: A Drinking Nation?

Assalamualaikum,

Malaysia is by our government's own admission, an Islamic nation. A country where Islam is the official religion. To the eyes of the world then, I would assume that being ranked the 10th largest consumer of alcohol in the world comes as a bit of a surprise.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has been named by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the world’s 10th largest consumer of alcohol despite its small population and size.

Statistics by the international body this year also showed that Malaysians spent over US$500mil (RM1.5bil) on alcohol with a per capita consumption of seven litres.

Source

This is tricky. The majority of Malaysians are Muslim, so we assume (actually, we should expect) that they don't drink. A census in the year 2000 said Muslims make up approximately 60% of the population. I don't think this number changed that much in 11 years. So, either 40% of Malaysians (non-Muslims) drink so much, that they alone are responsible for making Malaysia the world's 10th largest consumer of alcohol or, we have Muslims contributing to that "achievement". It seems more likely to me that the latter is what's happening in Malaysia.

I don't think 40% of Malaysia, which is already "small in population and size" compared to other nations can account for the sales that was recorded. It's much more likely that Muslims are contributing to sales of alcohol as well.

Whatever the case, our government (the government of a Muslim nation) should be embarrassed at this statistic for making alcohol as "accessible" as it is in this Muslim nation. I know I am.

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