Bali Booze Ban Big Concern For Aussies

[icyfroth]

While Indonesia's plan to execute Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan has not dented Australian tourist visits to the island, a proposed alcohol ban could.

The number of Australians visiting Bali over the past two months was up 16.7 per cent from the same period last year, with more arriving than any other nationality.

Indonesia Institute president Ross Taylor says it is unfortunate the fate of Bali Nine drug smugglers is probably third on the list of concerns about Indonesia among fellow nationals.

He says legislation proposed by two Islamic parties banning consumption of all beverages containing more than one per cent alcohol is considered more of a worry, and could become law as early as the end of this year if backed by President Joko Widodo.

"In Aceh, they've introduced Sharia law. Very strictly. Even foreigners can be arrested in Aceh for not dressing appropriately."

Mr Taylor said nationalist sentiment was running high, with Indonesian authorities reviewing every property to ascertain whether it was being held on behalf of a foreigner.

"A lot of them are," he said.

"The state will either resume that property or offer the nominee the option of just keeping it for themselves, with no legal comeback from the foreign owner.

"So if you take that and the alcohol thing I think it's really symptomatic of a disturbing trend - and Indonesia is a country that stole my heart so I'm not anti-Indonesia - of the Jokowi government showing all the signs of being naive, dysfunctional and lost at the moment.

Entire Article Here

I don't see the Jokowi (sic) government as being "naive, dysfunctional and lost at the moment.".

More like fulfilling the mandate the Indon ppl gave him when they elected him, and that is freeing their country from the rampant drug, alcohol and sex abuse tourism is bringing in.

I say good on him.

I wish we had a national-minded government like that.

[idlewhile]

Sooner he walks the walk and bans booze, introduces Sharia law and all other restrictive islamic rules the better.

We will then cease to see young drunken Aussies cavorting and being served up poison, going blid and worse.

Bring it on and lets put an end to the Bali conga line of deaths of young Australians.

Will never happen though. Joko  knows where the money comes from hypocritical murderer.

[gleee58]

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@icyfroth wrote:

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Isn't that what all tourist industries do? Imagine if Margaret  Rver or Barossa Valley wineries were not allowed to sell wine with an alcohol content of more that 1%.

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Barossa Valley and Margaret River wineries are tourist industries are they?

While they probably do tours of their wine processing plants and offer cheese and bikkies with their wine tasting, they hardly depend on the hedonism of the western tourist.

Although I certainly believe Australia could also do with restrictions on the availability of alcohol and shorter opening hours of clubs, pubs and bars.

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Yes, they are tourist industries.  They rely heavily on the value adding tourism and events markets.

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There's no comparison.

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I'm sure the tourist operators in the Barossa Valley and Margaret River will be happy to accommodate those who won't go to Bali if they can't get grog, provided they know how to behave.  

You'd better let them know they have it wrong.

http://www.margaretriver.com/

[icyfroth]

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@gleee58 wrote:

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@icyfroth wrote:

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Isn't that what all tourist industries do? Imagine if Margaret  Rver or Barossa Valley wineries were not allowed to sell wine with an alcohol content of more that 1%.

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Barossa Valley and Margaret River wineries are tourist industries are they?

While they probably do tours of their wine processing plants and offer cheese and bikkies with their wine tasting, they hardly depend on the hedonism of the western tourist.

Although I certainly believe Australia could also do with restrictions on the availability of alcohol and shorter opening hours of clubs, pubs and bars.

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Yes, they are tourist industries.  They rely heavily on the value adding tourism and events markets.

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There's no comparison.

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I'm sure the tourist operators in the Barossa Valley and Margaret River will be happy to accommodate those who won't go to Bali if they can't get grog, provided they know how to behave.  

I'd love to see even 50% of the Aussie tourist trade go to local holiday destinations.

The key is as you say: "provided they know how to behave."

Which, from what I've seen in various reports, many young tourists to Bali think they can behave like drunken, drugged out, sex-crazed louts. 

And smuggle drugs.

Would they behave like that in Margaret River or the Barossa Valley? It's unlikely. Why then should the Indons put up with it, especially when their Islam ethics are in stark contrast.

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[Anonymous]

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@j*oono wrote:

No more schoolies in Bali.  That can only be a good thing.

I think it will more or less kill tourism in Bali though.

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Indonesia has banned small retailers from selling beer, despite an outcry from the alcohol and tourism industries over the Muslim-majority country's latest offensive against drinking.

The ban restricts the sale of beer and pre-mixed drinks to large supermarkets only, outlawing sales in the country's 16,000 minimarts and 55,000 other small shops.

Hotels, restaurants and bars are unaffected.

There had been particular anxiety about how the ban might affect tourism on the Hindu-majority resort island of Bali.

However, Indonesian trade minister Rachmat Gobel, who was shouted at during an ill-tempered meeting with community leaders in Bali last weekend, has now pledged to ease the restrictions on the island to ensure street vendors can still sell beer at the beach.

[icyfroth]

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@j*oono wrote:

No more schoolies in Bali.  That can only be a good thing.

definitely

I think it will more or less kill tourism in Bali though.

They'll have to get over it the same as traditional Australian holiday destinations suffered when holidays to Bali, Thailand, Fiji became affordable.

It seems to me that most wineries now have restaurants and reception centres in WA.  Can you imagine?  They make a lot of money there.  The last wedding I went to was at a winery by a lake.  I hate to think what the cost was for the bride and groom but it was an extremely beautiful place with a first class menu and wines galore. 

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