Bali needs rules on local liquors

Bali needs rules on local liquors

DENPASAR, Bali: Tabanan police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Rahardja
Subyakta urged local administration and councillors on Wednesday
to issue a regulation to control the distribution of traditional
liquors in the regency.

Rahardja said local liquors were more dangerous than imported
ones because they contained much more alcohol.

"Traditional liquors can contain 60 percent alcohol, while the
alcohol level of imported ones ranges from 10 percent to 48
percent," he said.

Rahardja cited several recent brawls between villages in
Tabanan, some 14 kilometers west of Denpasar, that were sparked
by drunken youths.

"This was because we have no regulation on traditional liquors
such as arak and tuak. Without it, it is difficult for police to
take any action against the production and distribution of such
liquors," Rahardja told reporters after witnessing the
destruction of some 928 bottles of liquors at his office.

The liquors were confiscated during an anti-liquor operations
conducted from Dec. 18, 2000 to Jan. 2, 2001.

"Most traditional liquors are produced by small breweries in
the villages, and they do not have the technology to set the
alcohol content at proper levels," Rahardja said. (zen/hdn)