THE supply of homemade alcohol, locally known as JJ Hot-stuff from Bougainville into the Shortland Islands, Western Province has eased down, after law enforcement authorities stepped up border surveillance.
Communities in the Shortlands told the Solomon Star that the once frequent flow of the potent drink—along with other spirits and liquor—has slowed significantly in recent months and years.
They attributed this to an increased border patrols and stricter surveillance by law enforcement agencies tasked with monitoring movement across the Solomon Islands–Papua New Guinea maritime boundary.
JJ Hotstuff sold in kina and Solomon Dollar is widely brewed and consumed in Bougainville and has been a regular item smuggled into Shortland villages, where legal alcohol outlets are scarce.
Villagers revealed that in past years, the illicit alcohol were easily available, transported across by small boats alongside store goods and fish catch.
However, with heightened checks at sea and onshore, the supply chain is being disrupted. While some residents welcome the development—saying it may help reduce alcohol-related disturbances in their villages—others argue that the restrictions are affecting their usual cross-border trade.
“People have been relying on these trips to bring back goods, and alcohol was often part of it. But since the patrols increased, we see less movement and fewer supplies coming in,” a villager from Nila said.
Local chiefs and church leaders have long raised concerns about the negative effects of this local hotstuff in their communities.
Reports of domestic disputes, youth disorder, and violence linked to its consumption have been frequent over the years. The recent decline in supply, some say, has already brought a sense of calm to villages.
In Bougainville, it is reported that anyone caught by police selling or consuming JJ Hotstuff could face severe punishment, including being shot on the spot.
Authorities, meanwhile, continue to stress the importance of regulating cross-border movement to prevent illegal trade and safeguard national security.
With Bougainville only a short boat ride away, the porous border remains a challenge for law enforcement.
For now, Shortland communities are adjusting to the reduced inflow of JJ Hotstuff, with calls for government support in promoting alternative livelihoods and running stronger awareness programs to address substance abuse and its social impacts
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
