TheJakartaPost
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Alcohol sellers agree to control, not total ban
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Police officers pay attention to a suspect making bootleg liquor, locally known as oplosan in Yogyakarta. Alcohol sellers in Bandung say total ban of alcohol would lead to more rampant sales of bootleg liquor. (Antara/Andreas Fitri Atmoko)
L
iquor sellers in Bandung, West Java, have agreed to the monitoring and control of alcoholic beverages as long as the government does not totally prohibit them from selling such drinks.
Leni, 50, a member of Communication Forum of Indonesia Alcohol Drinks Sellers said alcohol control was important for sellers like herself that earn a living selling beers. “I don’t mind regulations. But don’t apply a total ban because it will kill my business. If you want to regulate selling, I would be ready to comply,” she told The Jakarta Post after a meeting of alcohol drinks seller recently.
About 20 alcohol drink sellers attended the meeting.
The head of the forum in West Java, Simon Petrus, said he objected to raids on sellers who had liquor licenses. “The factory is legitimate, they pay tax. Their products are delivered to us but we feel uncomfortable selling them, like we are always under scrutiny,” Simon said.
Obtaining a license is not easy, he said.
Leni and Simon said a total ban would see bootleg liquor sales rise. They said bootleg liquor could kill people, but beer could not.
The forum complained about a House of Representatives plan to endorse a prohibition bill. The latest draft obtained by the Post showed the bill would totally ban the production, distribution and consumption of alcohol with few exceptions. They said the bill should only impose control, not totally ban alcohol.
