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strong>March 7, p5

In a bid to increase restrictions on the distribution of alcoholic beverages, the Surabaya municipal administration is set to impose a ban that will prohibit the sale of beverages containing over 0.5 percent alcohol at supermarkets and minimarts.

Chairman of the municipal legislative council'€™s special committee for bylaws on alcoholic beverages, Blegur Prijanggono, said that the draft bylaw on alcoholic beverages had been completed and would be implemented by the end of March.

'€œWe will give supermarkets and minimarkets three months to remove all products containing more than 0.5 percent alcohol from their shelves,'€ Blegur told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Your comments:

I totally support the move to restrict the distribution of alcoholic drinks.

Indeed this is a public safety concern, a public health matter that requires prudent government measures balancing public safety and its negative effects, such as the unintended creation of black markets or underground market (and the criminal elements these will inevitably attract).

Like prostitution, the more public controls are imposed, the more criminal activities flourish as there is great money.

One negating option to consider is the imposition of a user tax, which means only users will be taxed. To increase its bite, slap a substantial tax to reduce demand and distribution.

James Waworoendeng

Surabaya has a nicer airport than Jakarta. It'€™s easy to find a pleasant cafe where you can sit outside and enjoy some local food and a can of cold beer.

John Hargreaves

This is ridiculous. Stop blaming booze and let'€™s start tackling the real problem.

Loro Blonyo

It will only get worse! If people can'€™t buy wine then they will buy the illegal stuff. Maybe first many people have to die. Nobody dies from drinking a glass of wine. Only sell to people older than 18 years with ID. Also, make it illegal to drink on the streets.

Balistar

Somebody should tell these people the obvious truth: Demand for bootleg toxic liquor is driven by lack of availability of quality, less toxic, professionally produced alcoholic drinks. Making it harder to buy booze is just what the bootleggers want. Indonesia seems more and more a place for foreign tourists as well as would-be expat workers to avoid.

Toby

Making beer illegal in supermarkets will increase demand for cheap, homemade, dangerous liquor. Therefore, the bylaw will achieve the opposite of what was intended. Or is the intention to pander to the conservative religious types in the Surabaya electorate?

Nate

If we want to stop deaths from poisoning by bad homemade booze, we have to regulate the good stuff. Making booze illegal does not stop its availability. It just means the stuff that is available is dodgy and controlled by low-life mafia types. State liquor stores are the only way to go.

Deedee S

I don'€™t really understand the link between '€œbootleg liquor'€ and this law will impose a ban that will prohibit the sale of beverages containing over 0.5 percent alcohol at supermarkets and minimarts.

Does it mean the supermarkets sell bootleg liquor?

Surely not, so it'€™s just a way to caress the religious who want a ban on alcohol. Bootleg alcohol will continue to kill people, the foreigners and Indonesians (who are rich enough) will still continue to drink in clubs, karaokes, etc. What is the goal?

Do you know the '€œprohibition story'€ from the US?

But I agree for the protection of children, please stop selling beer, alcoholic mixed drinks and cigarettes near schools and universities. The adults are old enough and responsible to decide, let them have free choice!

Chr Moi

Such a measure should be done at the national level. I usually walk, sometimes at night, and pass by some drunk people (in several spots, including security posts). From what I have experienced, it'€™s best to restrict alcohol.

H cahyadi

Perhaps the beer and liquor manufacturers should open a factory here to gain the same status as cigarette sellers. Cigarettes kill many more people than beer. This is reality.

Trapa Cerio