We Need Al Capone Back!

[Roy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7782063.stm

Some folks could benefit from a little American history called Prohibition. The lesson is,
it doesn’t work.

There are plenty of potatoes and copper to be found in Bali! :shock:

[SG]

We need someone to explain to these <MOD EDIT> a) the meaning of pluralism, and b) the benefits that smart tourism can provide to all the peoples of Indonesia (look at Malaysia), before they completely kill it.

They've announced Visit Indonesia Year 2009, aimed, partially, at conferences, but no conference is gonna come anywhere near Indonesia when they can't provide the attendees the sort of facilities and hospitality they take for granted anywhere else, and at a sensible price.

At least they are now being honest about the reasons for the tax and restrictions....it's an agenda by someone who has no business pursuing such an agenda, and I think as much as anything reflects an increasing clash between the quickly growing middle class and those who are uncomfortable with what that means.

It's not a positive for Indonesia.

[mimpimanis]

At least they are now being honest about the reasons for the tax and restrictions

I havent seen anything on this SG, what is the reason?

[SG]

From the BBC story:

But the head of fiscal policy at the finance ministry was wary. The government was considering letting more legal alcohol into the country he said, but it was worried about the consequences of doing so.

and

"I have a wine bar here," he told me, "in which I would say 80% are Indonesians. These are the people who are ready to spend good money on alcohol and wines - the local Indonesians."

In a largely Muslim country, that is controversial. One reason, he said, why he believes the government has not accepted it yet, and also why they are unwilling to increase the quotas.

Government officials admit they want to discourage consumption; that they are worried about Indonesians drinking more; that it needs strict regulation.

Of any country I've spent time in, Indonesia has the least domestic problem with public drunkenness

[SG]

We need someone to explain to these <MOD EDIT>

This has to be the first time anywhere in the world I've ever come across the censoring of a mild slight aimed at civil servants for their follies and incompetence.

It is idiotic behaviour and it's causing some pain to Indonesian and Indonesian owned businesses as well as the expat community (that last bit being neither here nor there).

[Bert Vierstra]

You can easily be critical without the "strong language". Thanks for cooperating.

[Jimbo]

What about local beers, wines and sprits? Is there any problem there?

[ronb]

No shortage of Bintang and Hatten is noticeable in the north yet - but I would think if the wine shortage gets serious then Hatten will also become harder to get.

[mimpimanis]

No shortage down here either but the cost of a botle of Hatten has gone up about 30%.

[SG]

There was a shortage of Bintang two weeks back but it's all back now it seems. This is just about the imported stuff, not the local stuff.

And apparently the (formerly) cheap Chilean wine is still coming through because someone greased the right palms, but it's very pricey (and mostly not great).