The Jakarta Globe, December 20, 2012
Indonesia would introduce stiff penalties for the consumption of all alcoholic beverages under a controversial bill drafted by the Islamic United Development Party (PPP) that would effectively ban the sale, production and consumption of alcohol in this Muslim-majority nation.
Hard alcohol is already heavily regulated in Indonesia, where hefty taxes contribute to some of the highest prices in the region and local bylaws limit the open sale of liquor in some municipalities. This new regulation would go further, effectively banning all alcohol, including domestically produced beer like Bintang, in a push that would make Indonesia a dry country.
Those caught consuming alcohol could face up to two years in prison. Distributors would face up to five years while producers could face a maximum of 10 years in jail.
“This will be a ban on producing, distributing and consuming alcohol,” Arwani Thomafi, secretary of the PPP faction at the House of Representatives, said.
The bill is among 70 “high priority” bills scheduled for deliberation next year.
The Islamic party introduced the bill to bring the nation in line with “religious guidelines” as well as address the negative impact of excessive alcohol consumption on people’s health, Arwani said.
The lawmaker claimed the consumption of alcohol spurred a rise in crime and offered no significant contribution to state coffers.
Tourist areas and “certain ethnicities” might be spared the ban, Arwani said. He did not explain which tourist areas or ethnic groups would be allowed to drink alcohol under the ban.
Arwani said any controversy the bill generates was just a part of process.
“I think it’s part of the usual dynamics in bill deliberations,” he said.
BeritaSatu, JG
do 20 dec 2012 - 22:18