Sprite: Non alcoholic

To respond to the concerns of Agus and the letter from MUI (The Jakarta Post readers' column, Oct. 10, 1994) we would like to explain the following points.

Firstly, we wish to confirm that in the Indonesian manufacture of Sprite, as well as Coca-Cola and other Company products, alcohol is not added as an ingredient and no fermentation takes place.

The ingredients and manufacturing process used in the production of the Coca-Cola family of beverages products are rigorously regulated by government and health authorities in Indonesia and in the more than 195 countries which have consistently recognized the beverages of The Coca-Cola Company as non alcoholic products. This includes countries where Islam is the major religion, like Indonesia.

Secondly, although the government of Indonesia makes "halal certification" optional, the Coca-Cola Company in Indonesia is now in the process of applying to the relevant authorities to obtain halal certification for the Coca-Cola family of beverage products sold in Indonesia.

Thirdly, since last year, the Bottlers of Coca-Cola in Indonesia have been conducting marketing activities called "Community-based marketing" where one of its programs is offering the fun, the taste, the quality and enjoyment of the world's best-known soft-drinks to every consumer in Indonesia via product sampling. The product sampling activities are conducted in public area, schools and, on a request basis, we provide our Corporate products free at mosques. Sampling activities are run on an occasional basis and are intended to offer our consumers the taste, the quality and enjoyment of our products.

JANNUS HUTAPEA

Public Relations/External

Affairs Manager

PT. Coca-Cola Indonesia

Jakarta