Regional autonomy for liquor distribution<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. issued
\nyesterday a decree which strives to give provincial and regional
\nadministrations greater autonomy on the control of liquor sales
\nand distribution.<\/p>\n
Director General for Public Administration and Regional
\nAutonomy Oman Sachroni announced yesterday the issuance of the
\nSupervision and Control of Liquor Sales and Distribution Decree,
\nand said that local administrations are to manage the sales and
\ndistribution of alcoholic beverages.<\/p>\n
Provincial administrations are to issue decrees to regulate
\nprohibition, supervision and control of liquor distribution,
\nwhile the regency administrations or municipalities are to
\ncontrol places where alcoholic beverages can be sold.<\/p>\n
The provincial and regency administrations' decrees are
\nbasically to prohibit the distribution or sale of alcoholic
\nbeverages in places other than hotels, bars or other designated
\nplaces, Oman said.<\/p>\n
\"Regional administrations may ban sales and distribution of
\nalcohol if the majority of their population are against it,\" Oman
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
With the new ministerial instruction, liquor cannot be sold at
\nplaces which are close to houses of worship, schools and
\nhospitals, Oman said.<\/p>\n
He said the ministerial decree also bans regional
\nadministrations from imposing taxes, levies and other retribution
\non liquor sales. \"They may only impose tax on liquor retailers,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Asked about control for the production and sale of traditional
\nalcoholic beverages, Oman said it will be ruled further in a
\nseparated and specific regional decree, according to each
\nregion's tradition.<\/p>\n
The ministerial instruction for governors and regents, or
\nmayors, is a follow-up of Presidential Decree Number 3\/1997 on
\nsupervision and control of alcoholic beverages.<\/p>\n
Oman added that the places allowed to sell liquor should be
\ndecided in accordance with existing regulations, such as those
\nissued by the Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications.<\/p>\n
The sale of alcohol in Indonesia, the world's largest Islamic
\ncountry, is legal. However, it is the understanding of many
\nMoslems that alcohol is haram (religiously prohibited) and that
\nregulating its distribution is the same as condoning its
\nconsumption.<\/p>\n
The controversy over the liquor decree began in September,
\nafter the Jakarta Legislative Council passed a bill on alcoholic
\nbeverages which rules the imposition of new fees on alcohol
\ndistribution.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta City Council passed the decree in September to
\nreplace a previous decree, which was considered weak for
\ncontrolling alcohol distribution.<\/p>\n
The old decree only imposed a tax on liquor retailers, while
\nthe new one would also impose a distribution fee and stipulates a
\nliquor distribution quota in the city. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/regional-autonomy-for-liquor-distribution-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}