Concerns on alcohol

Concerns on alcohol

There has been some strong criticism against the government's
newly imposed regulation on the sale of alcoholic beverages.
However, in the face of such a reaction the authorities seem to
be adamant and have indicated that they will continue with the
campaign.

Restrictions on the production, import and sale of alcohol
were issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade recently. Under
the new regulations, the sale of alcohol will only be allowed
between noon and 3 p.m. and between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Some restaurant and nightspot owners have reacted angrily over
these regulations, particularly the restriction on selling hours.
They are concerned that under the new regulations they may be
forced to close their bars, cafes and discotheques due to
severely curtailed revenues. They have demanded that the
authorities review the policy.

Upon learning the background of the regulation, one would
understand that such a policy had been made to placate the
appeals by many segments of society who claim that the
unregulated sale of alcohol has caused a host of negative impacts
on the nation. Jakarta's nightspots are not the only ones to be
blamed for this because problems stemming from the unrestricted
sale of alcohol can also be found in the provinces. Through the
new policy, the government hopes to significantly decease illegal
sales of alcohol.

It is true that the anti-crime and anti-alcohol campaigns
started in 1994 by the Jakarta Military Command after one of its
high-ranking officers, Brig. Gen. T.M.F. Tampulolon, was stabbed
to death by a group of drunken young men in East Jakarta. But the
campaign has since been supported by Moslem leaders throughout
the country.

The main basis behind their concern is the uncontrolled sale
of alcohol which tempts many high school children to consume
alcoholic beverages, especially low-quality locally made liquors
with a high alcohol content. Many school principals have thrown
their weight behind the drive for this same reason. School
authorities have also complained that alcohol has disrupted their
learning environments because many teenaged students find it easy
to buy alcohol near their schools.

It is apparent to many principals and parents that many
cigarette vendors operating near high schools also illegally
offer alcohol to students. Such illicit business has continued
unabated because no raids have been conducted against these
vendors by law enforcement officials.

So far the sale of alcohol seems to have known no limits. An
eating establishment near a bus terminal in Jakarta has only been
recently banned from selling alcohol after a bus driver, whose
bus crashed killing 35 passengers in Cakung, East Jakarta, was
found to have consumed alcohol before he drove the vehicle.

Recurring incidents such as this along with strong protests by
the restaurateurs fearing reduced revenue have forced many people
to express skepticism over the feasibility of the new policy.
Regulations, they say, may have good intentions, but the problem
is always in the weak enforcement of the law. And this stems
simply from a lack of national discipline.

However, the focus of attention should now be given first to
the safety of young people. Few have paid significant attention
to them. Foreign tourists here have voiced surprise on seeing how
freely teenagers enter nightspots or buy alcohol at stores, while
their Western counterparts are banned by law from such activity.

What this country badly needs is a law banning the sale of
alcohol to underaged people. This law should also be extended to
ban children from entering nightspots that sell such products.
With such a law stringently enforced, alcohol consumption by
young people -- take for example under 21 years of age -- could
be reduced because sellers could be held responsible for the
offense and be heavily penalized under the law.