Hope to celebratory drinks raises spirits

Mariani Dewi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 12/24/2008 10:49 AM

Christmas and New Year's Eve partygoers, sobering up to the gloomy reality of a shortage of alcoholic beverages, could soon find relief in reports that container-loads of drinks are on their way from Tanjung Priok Port to hotels, restaurants and bars across the city.

Mugi Harjo, general manager of supplier PT Pandawa Mas, said stocks were trickling out of the port, where 50 containers full of fresh supply have been detained for failing to clear customs and excise.

"It's not as much as we would have liked, but the supplies are starting to come in. We're hoping to have them in time for the Christmas and New Year festivities," he said.

The company is rationing its limited stock to buyers, with many forced to wait in line for delivery.

The Sultan Hotel is one of them. Herman Kartaamidjaja, food and beverage director at the Sultan, said his hotel had seen very few deliveries recently.

"We can't get any spirits. But we've managed to hunt down a few bottles of wine from different suppliers," he said.

As the hotel prepares to host New Year's Eve celebrations, it has fallen back on last year's excess stock to serve to an expected 1,500 customers.

"We're lucky we bought too much last year and now have some leftover. We've rationed the selling to leave some for New Year's Eve. We hope it's enough, but the selection is very limited," Herman said.

Stocks have been running dry over the last few months, with hotels, restaurants and other entertainment establishments thirsting for fresh supplies. Individual buyers - including expatriates -- are also leaving empty-handed from retail outlets, despite being willing to fork out more money for their favorite drinks.

"They're just gone. All I can get is local beer. I like it, but I want more selection and I want a taste of my country's local flavor. I wonder what's really happening," a Japanese expatriate told The Jakarta Post last week.

According to the city's official news portal, beritajakarta.com, 50 containers loaded with alcoholic beverages have been held up at Tanjung Priok Port since early December on suspicion of falsified invoices and the drinks being illegally imported.

The reported release of the drinks through the customs checkpoint comes after successive talks between state-owned sole importer PT Sarinah, and hotel operators, the customs and excise office and the industry office. No official statement has been released to the media about the suspension or the release of the drinks.

The city, meanwhile, is gearing up for the year-end festivities. As of Dec. 19, the Jakarta Tourism Agency has approved 131 New Year's Eve events registered by 91 entertainment establishments across the city.

They include 43 hotels, 17 bars and pubs and 10 nightclubs -- all of which list alcoholic beverages in their drinks menus.

Arie Budiman, head of the tourism agency, was upbeat the establishments would get their hands on fresh supplies in time for the parties.

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