'There is no need for a blanket ban on liquor'

'There is no need for a blanket ban on liquor'

The city administration recently banned the sale of all drinks
containing more than 5 percent alcohol at supermarkets and
hypermarkets. The Jakarta Post asked people to comment on the
policy.

Hidayati Ruth Ismael, 45, works as an executive administrator
at Koll Residential Services in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.
She lives in Pondok Indah, also in South Jakarta:

I work for a real estate services company that helps
expatriates move into their new homes in Jakarta, and we usually
send them gift baskets that include flowers or fruit and a bottle
of wine, to welcome them to their new homes.

Personally, I think this regulation is ridiculous. I mean, how
many people drink wine and spirits in Jakarta? I believe the
market is already very segmented and there is no need for a
blanket ban.

Just because Muslims are a majority in Indonesia doesn't mean
such regulations should be imposed. What about the rights of the
minority? Besides, medical research has shown that a little red
wine now and then is beneficial for your health.

I think a more effective way to prevent irresponsible drinking
is to impose an age limit. In the U.S., minors or those under the
age of 21 are prohibited from purchasing alcohol.

If you can't produce a valid ID showing that you are 21 or
older, you can forget about buying alcohol, and this includes
beer.

Limiting sales through duty free shops is not fair, as only
expatriates are allowed to purchase liquor at these outlets. What
about local churches that serve wine for communion? Should they
all switch to grape juice?

Martua R. Simarmata, 34, is a project officer for property
consultant Colliers International in South Jakarta. He lives in
South Jakarta:

Now that the sale of alcoholic beverages is banned in Jakarta
-- one of the biggest markets for alcohol -- local producers will
reduce production, which in turn will raise production costs and
effect the profits of these companies.

If this situation continues, we can expect the companies to
fire workers or shut down completely. To avoid this, producers
will try to find new markets in other cities, and this could even
effect distribution companies, nightclubs and the bottling
industry.

And since we know the tax on alcoholic drinks is one of the
highest in the consumer goods market, the imposition of the ban
will impact the local administration's tax revenue.

Furthermore, with the supply restricted people will try to
find other means to get their alcoholic beverages, and could even
resort to illegal means.

-- The Jakarta Post