Union Minister for Commerce Dr Than Myint has called on authorities concerned to have systematic control of fake alcohol, sale of alcohol without licence and mass purchases of alcohol from international airports.

The ministry issued a notification (8/2013) banning import of alcohol, beer and cigarette.

Due to changes and development and increasing numbers of foreign tourists to Myanmar, import of a limited amount of alcohol, beer and cigarette has been allowed with endorsements from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism so that those products can be sold at duty-free shops at international airports and at hotels, said the minister.

He stressed the need for hotels to exactly follow the provisions of liquor licences and wholesale and retail licences. He added that authorities need to systematically control fake alcohol, sale of alcohol without licence and mass purchases of alcohol from international airports.