A

ug. 31, p. 5

As a Swedish citizen, I have noticed many negative articles about Indonesia, including many cases of alcohol poisoning, in the Swedish news.

In the past years, two Swedish people have died of alcohol poisoning due to methanol enhanced alcohol. The reported deaths affect both foreigners and Indonesians, due to the increasing prevalence of illegal alcohol. It is obvious that it correlates to Indonesia’s high taxation policy. (By Kim Silander, Jakarta)

Your comments:

The government should not lower alcohol tax to to reduce the incidence of alcohol poisoning. According to Law No. 39/2007, alcohol and tobacco products are goods that subject to excise tax because both products are dangerous to health.

Distribution and sales of such goods should be controlled By lowering excise tax for alcohol it would make alcohol easily purchased by minors and poor people. Cigarette prices in Indonesia are lower than candy.

A crack down on illegal liquor production by customs officers would reduce distribution. It works when the customs conduct operations on illegal cigarettes.

Nur Hadi Wiyono