Jakarta – It's better to control the production and distribution of alcoholic beverages than to ban them outright, Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat said on Wednesday, pointing to several dangerous potential consequences.

At a panel discussion on alcohol regulations in the capital, Djarot said that alcohol is traditionally produced and consumed by many people across the country.

The deputy governor added that a complete ban would likely lead more people to start producing their own moonshine, a practice that has already claimed many lives in Indonesia.

A ban would also lead to a large black market for alcohol and the potential for corruption and collusion involving officials seeking to benefit from bending the rules, Djarot said.

"So what's important is to control alcohol [production and distribution], so that people don't drink too much," he explained. "We have to make a wise decision on how the state can best protect its citizens. Licensed alcohol should not be our concern, but [we should focus on] alcoholic drinks produced in shady places, moonshine that threatens people's lives."

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/jakartas-djarot-alcohol-ban-dangerous/