2. Product Categories

Beers & Whisky
Malaysia

This section provides the regulatory definition of the food category in scope, or the appropriate food category for the product in scope. Additionally, it provides the food products that belong to this food category along with the definition and specific information on each of these types of food products.

2.1 Category Name & Definition

General Food

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Category Name

Alcoholic Beverages 

Alcoholic beverages are defined in Regulation 361 - General standard for alcoholic beverages [1].

Definition

Alcoholic beverages are liquor containing more than 2 percent v/v of alcohol and include the food for which a standard is prescribed in regulations 362 to 384, 386, and 386A but does not include the denatured spirit or any liquor or any preparation containing more than 2 percent v/v of alcohol for which medicinal properties are claimed, as specified in Regulation 361 [1].

2.2 Product & Definition

1) Beer

Definition

Beers are defined in Regulation 374 - Beer, larger, ale or stout [1] as below:

(1) Beer, lager, ale, or stout shall be the product of the alcoholic fermentation of liquid derived from a mash of malted grain with hops or other harmless vegetable bitter. 

(2) Beer, lager, ale, or stout 

1. shall contain more than 2 percent v/v of alcohol; and 
2. may contain unmalted cereal or cereal meal, sugar, yeast nutrients, or carbon dioxide. 

(3) Beer, lager, ale or stout may contain caramel as a coloring substance, ascorbic acid, and not more than 25mg/kg of sulfur dioxide or sulfite as permitted food conditioner.

Specifications/Target Age

The minimum legal age for purchasing alcoholic beverages in Malaysia is twenty-one years, as defined in Regulation 361 [1]:

A person shall not sell any alcoholic beverage to any person under the age of twenty-one years.

Additional Information

None.

2) Whisky

Definition

Whisky is defined in Regulation 381 - Whisky [1] as below:

(1) Whisky is a spirit produced by the distillation of cereal or cereal products which has undergone alcoholic fermentation. It shall contain not less than 37.5 percent v/v of alcohol. 

(2) Whisky may contain caramel as a coloring substance and permitted flavoring substance.

Specifications/Target Age

Same as "Beer" above. 

Additional Information

None.

2.3 References

1. Food Regulations 1985 Update December 2023 (PUA 209_2020) thereunder  

https://hq.moh.gov.my/fsq/peraturanperaturan-makanan-1985