Nightspots, party goers reject alcohol restrictions<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Restaurateurs and nightspot patrons reacted
\nangrily yesterday to the government's new regulations on alcohol,
\nparticularly the restriction on selling hours.<\/p>\n
Concerned that their businesses would go bankrupt, operators
\nof bars, cafes and discotheques here demanded that the government
\nreview its policy immediately.<\/p>\n
People who frequent nightspots, and often drink alcohol during
\ntheir visits, questioned the government's reason for issuing such
\na \"demented\" policy.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post contacted restaurateurs from Tanamur
\nDiscotheque, Pete's Tavern Pub and Restaurant, Il Punto
\nRistorante, Deli & Wine Bar, Cafe Batavia and the Mandarin
\nOriental Hotel for their comments on the new regulations.<\/p>\n
The restrictions on the production, import and sale of alcohol
\nwere issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Under the new regulations, the sale of alcohol will only be
\nallowed between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. and between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.<\/p>\n
But restaurateurs said that 10 p.m. was the favorite starting
\ntime for most of their customers, and nightspot patrons admitted
\nthat 10 p.m. was the appropriate hour to start relaxing and
\nenjoying alcohol.<\/p>\n
\"Like many other discotheques all over the world, our real
\nbusiness hours here starts at 10 p.m.,\" Monang of Tanamur, one of
\nthe city's most popular nightspots among expatriates, said.<\/p>\n
\"Our customers are mostly businessmen and expatriates, who
\nflock to Tanamur after taking a break at their house and
\nfinishing work.\"<\/p>\n
Monang said he expected that a number of nightspots and
\nrestaurants in the capital would soon close their business if the
\ngovernment sticks to the regulation.<\/p>\n
\"There's no reason for the government to regulate such a
\nrestriction unless they want to see more tragic street crashes
\nhere because people are allowed to get drunk early when there are
\nstill many cars on the roads,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Daniel Benharto, the restaurant manager of Il Punto, said the
\nstrict selling hours would create uncertainty among investors in
\nthe food and beverage business.<\/p>\n
\"The impact must be big. It's really impossible that business
\nwill run smooth under such a condition.\"<\/p>\n
Daniel said he was sure that the regulation could not be
\nimplemented easily.<\/p>\n
\"How can the selling of alcohol stop after 10 p.m. when
\nvisitors start coming during that time,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The restriction was also questioned by Joya Marilynn, the
\npublic relations officer for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.<\/p>\n
\"It will have a big impact on our hotel's earnings because we
\nhave a restaurant and bar here which sells alcoholic beverages
\nwith meals and separately,\" Joya said.<\/p>\n
The head of public relations and marketing at Cafe Batavia,
\nDwi Supriyatin, also expressed her dissatisfaction, saying that
\nthe selling hours were too short.<\/p>\n
\"It is absolutely impossible to limit the selling hours of
\nalcoholic drinks to our customers,\" Dwi said.<\/p>\n
Soepardi Boikan, general manager of the F & B department of
\nPete's, said the limitation on selling hours would unquestionably
\nlead to a total collapse of the city's pubs.<\/p>\n
\"No pub operators will be able to breath under such
\nrestrictions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Like many restaurateurs, Soepardi urged the government to
\nreview the regulation, and make an exception for pubs and cafes
\nin the policy.<\/p>\n
Confused by the government's decision to limit selling hours,
\na regular discotheque patron, Dian, said: \"I thought the
\nregulation was already 'demented'.\"<\/p>\n
\"Perhaps, the government intends to turn beer lovers into
\nEcstasy takers because the latter don't need alcoholic beverages
\nto 'fly', just plain water,\" she said.<\/p>\n
An expatriate and serious alcohol lover, Nachum Kaplan, said:
\n\"It's impractical, unrealistic and a ridiculous decision.<\/p>\n
\"People going to bars or pubs before 10 p.m. are boring
\nindividuals.\"<\/p>\n
Under the regulation, alcohol will be divided into three
\ncategories: A (containing an alcohol content of between 1 percent
\nand 5 percent), B (5 percent and 20 percent) and C (20 percent
\nand 55 percent).<\/p>\n
The policy allows only duty free shops to sell alcohol in the
\nB and C categories. The sale of these two categories is only
\nallowed in three-, four- and five-star hotels and certain
\nlicensed bars, pubs and restaurants.<\/p>\n
Other details of the regulations, such as the age limitation,
\nis not yet clear because only Antara has so far claimed to have a
\ncopy of the policy.<\/p>\n
When contacted yesterday, Yuli at the public relations
\ndepartment of the Ministry of Trade and Industry said that the
\ncopies would be distributed to the media on Monday.<\/p>\n
Following the issuance of the regulation, the Jakarta Public
\nOrder office announced on Thursday that it would conduct a
\nmassive operation next week to remove alcohol from the city.<\/p>\n
\"We'll stage a joint operation with related agencies to
\ncontrol the sale and distribution of alcohol in the city. All
\nsuspicious places, ranging from small kiosks and terminals to
\nentertainment spots will be examined,\" Hadi Utomo, the head of
\nthe office, said. (07\/05\/bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nightspots-party-goers-reject-alcohol-restrictions-1447893297",
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