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ttempts to legislate alcoholic beverages to reduce fatalities from alcohol-related poisoning in Malang, East Java, have been in vain as nine more people died after drinking a locally produced liquor known as oplosan.

Malang Police detective and crime unit chief Adj. Comr. Aldy Suleman said that of the nine victims, one was female. Eight died Wednesday, while another passed away Thursday in Sidodadi Lawang and Kalirejo Malang subdistricts, respectively.

'€œWe are investigating the cases,'€ Aldy told The Jakarta Post on Friday, adding that seven survivors were still being treated at local hospitals.

Head of East Java Police chemical, biological and forensic (Kimbiofor) sub-directorate Surabaya branch, Fadjar Septi Ariningsih, said that her office had seized all of the evidence from the crime scenes.

The evidence included 15 bottles of alcohol, instant coffee, soda and energy beverages. '€œWe will conduct a laboratory examination as soon as possible,'€ Fadjar said.

In 2006, Malang imposed a bylaw on alcoholic beverage distribution that among other things required those buying alcohol to prove they were at least aged 21.

According to the Liam Charitable Fund Australia in Indonesia, a not-for-profit institution providing education on the dangers of oplosan, there are 147 bylaws across Indonesia that limit the distribution of alcoholic beverages.

Yet, fatalities from alcohol-related poisoning continue, the institution'€™s spokesperson Aji Sulaiman said.

The National Movement Against Alcoholic Drinks claimed that 18,000 people died annually due to drinking oplosan.

The figure is much higher than the number of people who died because of narcotics. According to the National Narcotic Agency (BNN), drugs claimed 40 lives a day or about 15,000 annually in Indonesia.

Psychologist Hartati of Surabaya University (Ubaya) said that bylaws on liquor were ineffective because for some people at the middle and grassroots levels, alcohol was synonymous with social interaction and emotional support.

'€œThis is an example of cultural distortion. Initially, they followed others, but later saw that there was nothing wrong with it and became addicted, like with cigarettes and drugs,'€ Hartati said.

Meanwhile, Prasinto of the Association of Alcohol Beverage Trade (Aspermira) said that businesspeople had demanded the government provide clear regulations on alcohol.

He said the distribution of alcohol in Surabaya alone was between 800 and a million bottles monthly.

'€œThere are many importers from Jakarta that directly sell the beverages to outlets in Surabaya, making it difficult [for the local administrations] to control it,'€ Prasinto said.