W

est Java Police have expressed pessimism over the battle to effectively contain the distribution of oplosan (bootleg liquor) within its jurisdiction due to the absence of a regulation banning the purchase of methanol, a key ingredient used to make the illegal product that has killed dozens of local residents in the last year alone.

The West Java Police narcotics and intelligence directorate head Sr. Comr. Ermy Widiatmo said that the absence of such a basic regulation had created opportunities for oplosan producers to distill and distribute their product in small clusters throughout many parts of the province, making it difficult for the police to track down their operations.

'€œIt [methanol] can be bought anywhere because it is also used as an antiseptic,'€ Ermy said in Bandung recently.

According to police data, more than 80 people died last year from drinking bootleg liquor in the province.

The highest number of victims, 12, died in Garut regency in September last year. Each were found to have consumed a mixture of energy supplement drink and bootleg liquor, reported to have been 70 percent pure, a purity level generally reserved for antiseptic purposes.

Another deadly incident occurred on Dec. 20 in Jatinangor district, Sumedang regency, in which seven people died following a drinking spree at an ojek motorcycle taxi shelter. The victims died despite having received emergency hospital treatment.

'€œWe are making an effort to prevent any further loss of life. As of now, police have confiscated 49,243 bottles of illegal liquor and 165,593 liters of alcohol,'€ Ermy said.

West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Moechgiyarto said that the rate of alcohol-related crime last year had risen slightly over 2014, with statistics reporting a total of 2,399 cases and 2,322 cases respectively.

The number of suspects held in 2015 stood at 2,986 in comparison to 2,887 the previous year, added Moechgiyarto, but did not specify whether those held were consumers, suppliers or producers.

'€œWe are still enforcing the law,'€ he said.

Meanwhile, University of Indonesia anthropologist Raymond Michael Menot has said that the high popularity of oplosan within society is partly triggered by existing regulations on alcohol consumption.

'€œBased on government regulation, alcohol can only be sold in restaurants, cafes and hotels. Due to this, it can only be consumed by higher economic groups. What about those with a middle to low income?'€ asked Raymond.

When there are restrictions, added Raymond, consumers seek alcohol in other places. '€œThose who cannot afford to spend large amounts of money seek cheap alcohol and sometimes mix it with alcohol that is unfit for human consumption,'€ he said.

'€œWith regard to the phenomenon, the government should really consider alternate restrictions, efforts that prevent further loss of life. Do the police have equipment to measure the alcohol levels of motorists? The issue must be dealt with methodically and not in half measure,'€ added Raymond.

Last year, all 10 party factions at the House of Representatives agreed to continue deliberating the alcohol prohibition bill. Lawmakers who support the bill have argued that the country requires a stronger legal standing in order to control the production and consumption of illicit alcohol.