The police and other authorities, such as the Trade Ministry, need to take a strict stance against illicit distributors. The distribution of alcohol must be controlled and should not be traded freely.
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·3 minutes read
THOMDEAN
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Thirty-one people died in vain. That was the headline of this daily on Tuesday, Apr. 10, 2018. They died after drinking bootleg liquor.
The heading was indeed selected to shake all of us, especially the government, both at the central and regional levels. No one seems to care about the futile deaths of our brothers. As reported, 31 people have died over the last three days after drinking bootleg liquor, 23 residents of Bandung regency, five residents of Palabuhanratu in Sukabumi regency and three residents of Bandung city.
We appreciate the speedy response of the West Java Police taking action. The police have taken legal action against the distributors of minuman oplosan (bootleg liquor). However, while we believe the law enforcement measure is important, it is not enough. The government should take the step to educate the public simultaneously while looking into the roots of the problem.
The 31 deaths caused by bootleg liquor is a recurring story. The archives of the Kompas Information Center (PIK) has records of a similar story on Mar. 16, 1995 with the heading, "Alcohol Poisoning Causes Deaths of 11 Youths in Solo". From 2015 to 2018, 215 people died from drinking bootleg liquor.
That figures is certainly not a simple statistic. We suspect that behind the figure are social problems that need immediate attention. Further research is needed to uncover the reasons behind our brothers’ deaths from drinking bootleg liquor. Is this a manifestation of social escapism, an endeavor to escape social pressures?
Jakarta State University sociologist Asep Suryana has observed that most of the victims were from the middle to lower economic classes. Present-day conditions have encouraged them to establish a deviant subculture. "In several cases, the more dangerous the liquor, the more those who dare to drink are considered heroes." (Kompas, Apr. 10, 2018)
Because these deaths caused by bootleg liquor are a societal issue, it must be approached in a comprehensive manner. A separate step must be taken to uncover more details on what is going on in our society. Local governments need to take a more significant role. Local governments that are closely connected to their community – district and village administrations, community health centers, religious leaders, neighborhood units (RT) and community units (RW) – need to pursue a public campaign on the dangers of bootleg liquor. Raising awareness among families is also badly needed. Social media activists can also campaign effectively on the dangers of bootleg liquor.
The police and other authorities, such as the Trade Ministry, need to take a strict stance against illicit distributors. The distribution of alcohol must be controlled and should not be traded freely. Do not allow more people to die in vain!
