Govt drafting decree on liquor sales<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Local alcoholics will find it almost impossible
\nto find drinks at roadside stalls as soon as the new home affairs
\nministry decree on alcohol comes into force.<\/p>\n
Alcoholic beverages will be available only in places
\nauthorized by the government and their sale will be strictly
\ncontrolled, ministry spokesman HSA Yusacc said yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"You can currently see alcoholic drinks on sale in small
\nkiosks and roadside foodstalls all over the place,\" he was quoted
\nby Antara as saying. \"When the decree comes into effect,\" they
\nwill be cleared from the shelves.\"<\/p>\n
The decree will be the guidelines for the Presidential Decree
\non the Control of Alcohol issued last month. No firm date has
\nbeen given for its implementation.<\/p>\n
The government has come under heavy pressure from hardline
\nMoslem groups who want alcohol totally banned on the grounds that
\nit is haram, or banned by Islamic teaching.<\/p>\n
They argue that liquor is responsible for the rising crime
\nrate and loose morality of many people in the predominantly
\nMoslem Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The presidential decree, consisting of six chapters and ten
\narticles, regulates in general terms production, quality
\nstandards, distribution, sales and tax on alcoholic beverages.<\/p>\n
It states that they may be made in Indonesia only with a
\npermit from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.<\/p>\n
The alcohol level of drinks is divided into three categories;
\nA includes drinks with a content of up to 5 percent, B from 5
\npercent to 20 percent and C from 20 percent to 55 percent.<\/p>\n
The Presidential Decree puts the production, distribution and
\nsale of drinks in categories B and C under close supervision.<\/p>\n
Chapter four of the Presidential Decree states that alcoholic
\ndrinks may be sold only in licensed places, such as hotels, bars,
\nrestaurants and other places appointed by the local regent, mayor
\nor governor.<\/p>\n
It says \"other places\" that the local government licenses to
\nsell alcohol should be located \"far enough\" from places of
\nworship, schools and hospitals, thereby ruling out the vast
\nmajority of roadside foodstalls.<\/p>\n
Yusacc said regencies with their own regulations on liquor
\nwould have to adjust the rules to comply with the ministerial
\ndecree.<\/p>\n
The 15 provinces with their own regulations are North Sumatra,
\nJambi, Bengkulu, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Bali, West
\nNusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, East Timor, South Sulawesi,
\nCentral Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Maluku, Irian Jaya, and
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has yet to have its regulation approved by the home
\naffairs minister due to strong objections from the local Moslem
\ncommunity. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-drafting-decree-on-liquor-sales-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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