Indonesia facing alcohol shortage

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Indonesia is not the first place that comes to mind when one thinks of drinking culture. Considering the country is the world’s most populous Muslim nation, a religion well-known for its temperance, visitors coming to Indonesia are probably not looking to get wasted as their first order of business.

But considering the increasingly modern fabric of this southeast Asian nation, it’s probably not surprising to discover that its citizens do happen to enjoy a tipple every now and then. Yet that is exactly the problem these days – in the country’s capital of Jakarta and in tourist hot spots like Bali, they’ve been experiencing a chronic shortage of alcohol – a problem that has been affecting Indonesians and tourists nationwide.

According to a recent article from the BBC, a recent anti-corruption drive has left the typically thriving market in black market liquor sales bone dry. leaving only a single licensed distributor to deal with an onslaught of demand nationwide.. Locals have argued that the problems caused by the shortage have been limited largely to international hotels and tourist regions like Bali – locations where foreigners tend to congregate.

So what then, some might say, if some drunk tourist can’t grab their tumbler of Glenlivet in a Muslim country? They should be respecting the norms of the culture they’re visiting right? That’s not entirely the case – many hotel managers argue that the ban has affected ordinary Indonesian citizens as well, who are having trouble enjoying a drink at their favorite nightspots as well.

It’s an interesting contradiction in a country facing the conflicting forces of traditional muslim culture and modernization. Perhaps, in fact, the type of open free-flowing discussion that can only happen over a good drink. Here’s hoping the citizens and tourists of Indonesia can work this one out like adults.

The 10 stupidest laws you could encounter abroad


NYT Celebrates Finnish Food Revival

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Finland is famous for it’s substandard cuisine, having been ridiculed by leaders from across Europe. And, let’s face it, it’s not all that hard to poke fun at an upscale restaurant named “Grotesk.” The country is trying to repair its culinary image, though, which is no easy task for the land of herring and reindeer. Of course, the Times pitches restaurants like Juuri and Loft, not exactly bargain destinations. Don’t worry, I’m here to fix that.

If you’re going to drop a little extra cash anywhere, make it your hotel. I stayed at Klaus K Hotel and don’t regret it for a second. Sure, it was a cool spot, and as expected, the Finns there made design and style a priority. I was impressed that they spent three hours helping me try to find a wireless internet connection when I had a minor meltdown at the front desk (thanks again, guys!). Blitzen makes a wonderful breakfast. Reindeer meat is included in Klaus K’s free spread, which is both tasty and filling. A few doors down was an excellent Indian restaurant (can’t remember the name … seven months ago, sorry). It’s definitely worth a stop, especially if you want a break from seafood.

But, if you want the best dining experience in Helsinki, you have to head down to the harbor. Snellman’s doughnuts will make you forget all about Dunkins. Neither circular nor with a hole in the middle, the delights at Snellman’s are rectangular and contain an apple pie-type filling. I mean, seriously, who wants to spend 250 Euros on a dinner that includes goat cheese ice cream at Nokka when you can down almost pure sugar for a couple of bucks?

Bypass Boston’s smoking ban with a drink in your hand

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Dashing up the coast on business? In town to take in a game at Fenway Park? Business or pleasure, make sure you stop by Cigar Masters in the Back Bay. Boston’s largest smoking lounge is supported by a large walk-in humidor and a bar with a full selection of imported beers and carefully chosen wines and ports. Attentive service will keep your glass full, and with ample comfortable seating, you’ll find it difficult to get up from the soft leather couch and leave.

Boston has several cigar destinations, but each has its limitations. L. J. Peretti boasts a great selection and reasonable prices-but it has no lounge. In the summer, you can grab a stick and head for the Boston Public Garden … but this is not as attractive an option in December. Trust me. Gloucester Street Cigar offers some great sticks that can be difficult to find elsewhere, and there is a bit more seating available. Beverages (and bathrooms), though, are lacking.

Cigar Masters is the only shop with the complete experience. You can show up empty handed and find the right drink to pair with your cigar at the lounge. Or, you can pick up a stick elsewhere and light it at Cigar Masters, as long as you pay the $10 cutting fee.

Once you pass through the front curtain, you’ll see why Cigar Masters is worth a visit. You can catch a game on the flat screen in the back or watch the Boylston Street traffic shuffle by while you sit in the large front window. If necessary, you can even have your shoes shined while you puff away. Cigar Masters redefines “full service.”

Whether you’re in Boston for a weekend getaway or have a same-day round trip for a meeting, you will want a place to smoke. Cigar Masters is it. Let the bartender pour you a glass of Boddingtons and cut your Davidoff Millennium. All you have to do is light and smoke.

The British government’s sad attempt at curbing binge drinking: Banning happy hour

by Aaron Hotfelder on

Happy hour can be one of the great pleasures– perhaps one of the only pleasures– of the typical nine-to-five worker’s day. Who doesn’t love a nice cheap pint or cocktail at the local bar after a long day’s toil?

But the days appear to be numbered for this holiest of rituals– in Britain anyway. The British government is set to ban time-limited alcohol promotions in bars, what you and I call “happy hours,” in an effort to curb binge drinking. Free drinks for women may also be prohibited, and there’s even been a suggestion to print warning labels on bottles of alcohol similar to those on cigarette packs.

These measures, which many are calling just another in a long line of nanny-state, Big Brother-type regulations in Britain, are the result of “long-term concern about the costs of alcohol misuse, estimated to run up to £25 billion a year.”

But not everyone is convinced that this ban is necessary, especially with the economy currently in the toilet. Writes Matthew Lynn: “It hardly sounds like a recipe for a fun night out. You step into the local after a hard day in the office, not having done any deals, and only narrowly avoiding redundancy, and you order yourself a pint of lager. Your barman sternly warns you that it contains 2 units of alcohol. He charges you full price for it. Pretty soon he’ll probably have to tell you there is too much salt in the crisps you ordered as well.”

Lynn goes on to argue that the people coming home from work, hoping to catch a 2-for-1 deal at the local pub, are not the problem– it’s those who have 20 drinks on Friday nights and go around looking for fights.

Once again, a government tries to give the appearance of solving a problem while not actually doing anything about it. Shocking.

Actor/traveler Ewan McGregor discusses the British nanny-state here.

The best cocktails in the world

by Annie Scott on

According to Genevieve Swart of The Sydney Morning Herald, the term sundowner, meaning sunset cocktail, originated in Africa, where they have some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

Swart has taken special pains (and pleasures) in finding the most beautiful places on the planet for sundowners. Her list includes hotel and restaurant locations in Cape Town, Santorini, Zanzibar, Norway, Brazil, Cambodia, and Florida — yes, Florida. She even found the best drinks! Would I like a Veligandu Secret in the Maldives? Yes, I would!

Unfortunately, I’m stuck in New York for the moment – but I bet I can find a patio on the Hudson River where they’d be willing to bring me a drink and tell me I’m in Asia. This “sundowner” idea is great!

[via The Sydney Morning Herald]