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City destroys thousands of illegal liquor
The Jakarta administration destroyed more than 18,000 bottles of illegal alcoholic beverages seized in five municipalities across the city in operations carried out from January to May at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Monday.
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Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (left) leads a liquor demolition event at the National Monument (Monas) on Monday. (Antara/Dhemas Reviyanto)
T
he Jakarta administration has destroyed more than 18,000 bottles of illegal alcoholic beverages seized in five municipalities across the city in operations carried out from January to May.
The public destruction of the bottles at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Monday comes as the city itself owns a 26.25 percent stake in brewery PT Delta Djakarta, which produces beers including Anker, Carlsberg and San Miguel.
“It is an irony that on the one hand we destroy liquor but on the other hand we have a stake in a beer company,”
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said at the demolition site on Monday, as reported by wartakota.tribunnews.com.
Anies has announced plans to relinquish ownership of the shares, which the city has owned since 1970. He sent a letter to the City Council earlier this year requesting a meeting to discuss the divestment plan. Following objections from several councilors, there has been no further discussion so far.
“There has been no progress yet,” Anies said of the divestment plan.
Jakarta receives around Rp 38 billion (US$2.6 million) in dividends from the shares, while the city could make up to Rp 1.4 trillion by selling its shares in Delta, which could be used to fund city infrastructure, Anies previously argued.
The destruction on Monday was only one measure taken to suppress the distribution of unlicensed beverages in the capital.
“We can cut supply, but if demand remains, no matter how much supply is cut, demand will always be there,” he said.
Anies suggested that public figures and families curb consumption and distribution in their respective neighborhoods.
About 18,174 illegal liquor bottles were seized from stores, stalls and illegal entertainment venues.
Around 6,000 of the bottles were seized in East Jakarta and West Jakarta each, followed by 2,462 bottles in North Jakarta, 2,454 in South Jakarta and 1,150 in Central Jakarta. (sau)
