Welcome, Liquor Regulators

ROWS of bottles and cans of alcohol fill a cooler in a shop near Sudirman railway station in South Jakarta. They come in different brands, and their prices vary, from 'only' Rp19,000 to Rp80,000. The liquor stand side by side with soft drinks. There is no notice indicating who may and who may not purchase the item.

Getting alcohol is also easy in remote parts of the country. "Indonesia is a paradise for strong drinks, available even to underage children," said Fahira Idris, chair of the Movement Against Liquor and the daughter of former Industry Minister Fahmi Idris. Since it was established last year, the movement has campaigned for greater restriction and control of distribution of alcoholic beverages. Liquor, Fahira said, has triggered acts of crime all over Indonesia.

July 15, 2014