Indonesian government is ready to take action on those who are still selling liquor (alcohol) in public places such as minimarket, including withdrawing the trade operation permit after the regulation issuance.
“The new regulation will be officially applied in April. We allow the community to report if there is a store who sells Alcoholic Beverages,” said the Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel in the meeting with National Movement of Anti-Alcohol (GENAM), in the Trade Ministry Building, Jakarta, Saturday.
Gobel also expressed his concern to the younger generation of Indonesia who have lately lost their lives due to Alcoholic Beverages. It is important to enforce the new regulations. “We better lose a lot of revenue from alcohol taxes, rather than lose our young generation,” he added.
While Fahira Idris, the chairman of GENAM and member of representative reported experiences of her organization on inspection in several alcohol-related sites.
“The spread of alcohol in Indonesia is worse than cigarettes. Many concerts are sponsored by the beer companies. The people who attend the concert can drink as much. It damages our nation,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Director of Domestic Trade Srie Agustina said, for those who violate the new rules, the ministry would give a warning three times, but if they still violated, their operating license will be revoked.
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