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.