Govt' to Exempt Tourism Areas from Liquor Ban  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Trade Ministry has issued a technical guideline on the implementation of Minister of Trade Regulation No. 06/M-DAG/PER/1/2015 on the ban of selling alcoholic beverages in minimarkets and retailers, which comes into force on Wednesday, April 16, 2015. The guideline states that every tourism area will be exempted from the ban. "Not only [tourist areas] in Bali of East Nusa Tenggara," said Srie Agustina, Director General of Domestic Trade.

Srie explained that in Bali, there are 16 tourist areas that house 600 alcoholic beverage retailers for foreign tourist. However, to have permission to sell alcoholic beverages the retailers must join each other and establish a join-business entity, such as a cooperative or a regional-owned enterprise.

Violation on the provision, as Srie stated, will cause the retailers to lose their operational license. "For the first violation we will give a sanction. For the second violation we will revoke the [retailers] license," Srie said.

Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel said restricting alcoholic beverage distribution is a good step because it degrades the mentality of Indonesian youth.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama said that he is considering to establish a special store that sells alcoholic beverages. Ahok asserted that the special stroe will limit the distribution of alcoholic beverages. "It would be better if there is a special store, [the customers] can be sorted out," Ahok said.

DEVY ERNIS | JAYADI S | AISHA S | AGITA S (SURABAYA) | SHINTA M (YOGYAKARTA) | ANDRI EL FARUQI (PADANG)