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everal articles have been written about this topic already and it has been a very hot discussion topic among The Jakarta Post readers in the last few days.

A lot of arguments have been brought up by both sides, but it seems that nobody, neither the government nor the public, is thinking about the so-called Third Alternative.

The Islamic parties who introduced the proposal have a clear interest in upholding Islamic rules among the Muslim population. There is nothing wrong with this.

However, it is very wrong from them to claim fake reasons, like health concerns for example. Their claims can immediately be debunked by comparing smoking-related disease and death with alcohol-related disease and death in Indonesia.

They should be honest about their real concerns instead of lying to the public.

On the other hand, a lot of people are calling for alcohol to remain available with no restrictions, on the basis of personal choice, personal responsibility, etc. This would be valid reasoning in a non-religious country, but it ignores the fact that Indonesia has a majority Muslim population.

In this case we should take a step back and look at alternatives, like the rules in Pakistan, where alcohol is sold and available through government-controlled outlets where only non-Muslims can buy it.

We would be well prepared for such a system in Indonesia, as religion is stated on every citizen'€™s KTP.

By controlling the sale of alcohol to only non-Muslims, all Muslims, Islamic parties and politicians should be happy, non-Muslims, foreign residents and tourists will be happy, the government can still keep its tax and excise revenue from alcohol, over 200,000 jobs will be preserved and the international community will not condemn Indonesia as a country that tries to sneakily implement Islamic law on the whole population.

I sincerely hope that the government will be smart enough to consider a third alternative, rather than enforcing a single-sided, single-minded law with massive negative consequences. Indonesia simply cannot afford more negative global headlines, decreasing numbers of tourists and increasing loss of foreign investors.

Ted Hilbert
Bogor