DENPASAR ~

Indonesian Retailers Association (APRINDO) urged the government to review the selling of alcoholic beverages at supermarket.

“This pilot study proves whether or not the sales of alcoholic drinks directly give negative impacts,” said Deputy of Secretary General of APRINDO, Satria Hamid, in a press release received in Denpasar, on Saturday.

APRINDO request was to respond the Decree on the Sale of Alcoholic Drinks Group A in minimarket which is applied start from 16 April 2015. The new rule is a revision of Decree in 2014 about the same thing.

One of the things that are set is related to the prohibition for minimarket and retailers to sell alcoholic beverages with certain alcohol level or type of beer.

“We asked to be reviewed no later than six months from the date that the Regulation is effective,” he said.

The review can be carried out by an independent agency to prove public opinion related to the sales of beer in supermarkets and the impacts.

If the study found no negative impact on the sales of beer in minimarket, then the government needs to revise this regulation and make exemption for certain regions, such as the tourist area.

“If it is not proven, it has to be revised. The government just needs to maximize surveillance to ward off fears of the public,” he said.

Meanwhile, Taufik Ismail, observer of corporation in Indonesia in the previous occasion stated that that the regulation provides an opportunity to an increase in intensity of black market of alcoholic beverages.

“Beer consumption is directly proportional to disposable income. If you see an increasing number of middle class in Indonesia, it is assumed that alcoholic drink consumption will also increase,” he said.

However, if demand continues to grow, while the supply of goods in the market shrinks, it will trigger black market activities of alcoholic beverages.

According to Taufik, many people consume alcoholic adulterated drink recently due to the high demand which is not matched with affordable prices as well as legal sales.

“Most of them actually mix alcoholic beverage class B and C (above 5 percent alcohol), such as wine, vodka, brandy, whiskey, and ‘tuak’ (traditional alcoholic drinks). Meanwhile for the impact of the sales of class A liquors under five percent have no negative note,” he said.

Taufik also explained that alcohol contributes to the state tax revenue that cannot be underestimated. In 2013 the Director General of Customs recorded the largest alcoholic beverage revenues derived from contributions of alcoholic drinks class A which is 65-70 percent.

While tax revenues from various alcoholic beverages in 2014 reached Rp5.9 trillion, increased significantly from 2013, which is only Rp3.6 trillion.

“Government needs to review the regulation. There is nothing wrong if Indonesia learn from Malaysia regarding this policy. Eventhough Malaysia is an Islamic state, but it does not prohibit sales of alcoholic beverages. They apply the rules clearly and do strict supervision of the alcoholic beverages circulation in the country,” he concluded.