Nightspots, party goers reject alcohol restrictions

JAKARTA (JP): Restaurateurs and nightspot patrons reacted angrily yesterday to the government's new regulations on alcohol, particularly the restriction on selling hours.

Concerned that their businesses would go bankrupt, operators of bars, cafes and discotheques here demanded that the government review its policy immediately.

People who frequent nightspots, and often drink alcohol during their visits, questioned the government's reason for issuing such a "demented" policy.

The Jakarta Post contacted restaurateurs from Tanamur Discotheque, Pete's Tavern Pub and Restaurant, Il Punto Ristorante, Deli & Wine Bar, Cafe Batavia and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for their comments on the new regulations.

The restrictions on the production, import and sale of alcohol were issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on Wednesday.

Under the new regulations, the sale of alcohol will only be allowed between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. and between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

But restaurateurs said that 10 p.m. was the favorite starting time for most of their customers, and nightspot patrons admitted that 10 p.m. was the appropriate hour to start relaxing and enjoying alcohol.

"Like many other discotheques all over the world, our real business hours here starts at 10 p.m.," Monang of Tanamur, one of the city's most popular nightspots among expatriates, said.

"Our customers are mostly businessmen and expatriates, who flock to Tanamur after taking a break at their house and finishing work."

Monang said he expected that a number of nightspots and restaurants in the capital would soon close their business if the government sticks to the regulation.

"There's no reason for the government to regulate such a restriction unless they want to see more tragic street crashes here because people are allowed to get drunk early when there are still many cars on the roads," he said.

Daniel Benharto, the restaurant manager of Il Punto, said the strict selling hours would create uncertainty among investors in the food and beverage business.

"The impact must be big. It's really impossible that business will run smooth under such a condition."

Daniel said he was sure that the regulation could not be implemented easily.

"How can the selling of alcohol stop after 10 p.m. when visitors start coming during that time," he said.

The restriction was also questioned by Joya Marilynn, the public relations officer for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

"It will have a big impact on our hotel's earnings because we have a restaurant and bar here which sells alcoholic beverages with meals and separately," Joya said.

The head of public relations and marketing at Cafe Batavia, Dwi Supriyatin, also expressed her dissatisfaction, saying that the selling hours were too short.

"It is absolutely impossible to limit the selling hours of alcoholic drinks to our customers," Dwi said.

Soepardi Boikan, general manager of the F & B department of Pete's, said the limitation on selling hours would unquestionably lead to a total collapse of the city's pubs.

"No pub operators will be able to breath under such restrictions," he said.

Like many restaurateurs, Soepardi urged the government to review the regulation, and make an exception for pubs and cafes in the policy.

Confused by the government's decision to limit selling hours, a regular discotheque patron, Dian, said: "I thought the regulation was already 'demented'."

"Perhaps, the government intends to turn beer lovers into Ecstasy takers because the latter don't need alcoholic beverages to 'fly', just plain water," she said.

An expatriate and serious alcohol lover, Nachum Kaplan, said: "It's impractical, unrealistic and a ridiculous decision.

"People going to bars or pubs before 10 p.m. are boring individuals."

Under the regulation, alcohol will be divided into three categories: A (containing an alcohol content of between 1 percent and 5 percent), B (5 percent and 20 percent) and C (20 percent and 55 percent).

The policy allows only duty free shops to sell alcohol in the B and C categories. The sale of these two categories is only allowed in three-, four- and five-star hotels and certain licensed bars, pubs and restaurants.

Other details of the regulations, such as the age limitation, is not yet clear because only Antara has so far claimed to have a copy of the policy.

When contacted yesterday, Yuli at the public relations department of the Ministry of Trade and Industry said that the copies would be distributed to the media on Monday.

Following the issuance of the regulation, the Jakarta Public Order office announced on Thursday that it would conduct a massive operation next week to remove alcohol from the city.

"We'll stage a joint operation with related agencies to control the sale and distribution of alcohol in the city. All suspicious places, ranging from small kiosks and terminals to entertainment spots will be examined," Hadi Utomo, the head of the office, said. (07/05/bsr)