Rules restricting alcohol unlikely to have 'teeth'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Religious leaders have expressed skepticism over
\nthe enforcement of the government's new regulations on alcohol
\nsales.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the city's Moslem Preachers Corps, Ahmad
\nSumargono, said on Monday that restricting the sale of alcohol
\nwas a good move.<\/p>\n
\"All regulations are good but the problem is always the lack
\nof supervision,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The ministerial decrees, issued by the industry and trade
\nministry on Oct. 15, limit the sale of alcohol in pubs, clubs and
\nrestaurants to six hours -- from noon to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10
\np.m.<\/p>\n
Those wanting to purchase alcohol will only be permitted to do
\nso at duty free shops, three-, four- and five-star hotels and
\ncertain licensed bars, pubs and restaurants.<\/p>\n
Ahmad said the implementation of regulations always fell short
\nof the mark because Indonesians lack discipline.<\/p>\n
\"Moreover, this business is attractive because alcohol has its
\nown appeal and government officials and businesspeople are
\ninvolved.\"<\/p>\n
People are also afraid that the new regulations may lead to
\ncollusion between authorities and businesspeople because
\n\"everything can be arranged\", he said.<\/p>\n
Ahmad said he fully supported the restriction which limits
\nalcohol sales to hotels and certain licensed venues.<\/p>\n
\"What is damaging is the sale (of alcohol) at stalls where
\nlow-income people can afford to buy it,\" he said<\/p>\n
The secretary of the Jakarta chapter's Indonesian Ulemas
\nCouncil, Cholid Fadlullah, shared Ahmad's view.<\/p>\n
\"What is needed is a kind of ban,\" he said. \"To calm the
\npeople I think the government should create a law which bans
\nalcohol but has certain tolerating clauses.\"<\/p>\n
He said these clauses should apply to the sale of alcohol for
\nforeigners at luxury hotels and the use of alcohol for certain
\nreligious reasons.<\/p>\n
Cholid also agreed with the limitation on alcohol sales.<\/p>\n
\"I think the sale of alcohol at (specific) places is no
\nproblem because they only cater to certain people.\"<\/p>\n
He said attention should be paid to the use of alcohol in
\nrelation to crime.<\/p>\n
Cholid said the nation's alcohol problem could be eliminated
\nif public figures were actively involved in campaigns that
\nhighlighted the danger of alcohol consumption and government
\nofficials were consistent in implementing the regulations.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta chairman of Indonesia's Communion of Churches,
\nJohnny Anthonius Assa, also expressed his skepticism over the
\nregulations.<\/p>\n
He said that the regulation did not really solve the problem
\nbecause it still permitted the sale of alcohol to certain people.<\/p>\n
\"If the government really wanted to combat the alcohol
\nproblem, all sales would be totally prohibited.\"<\/p>\n
However, if the use of alcohol was for health and religious
\nreasons it was understandable, he said.<\/p>\n
\"But permitting the sale for tourist-related reasons can't be
\naccepted.\" (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rules-restricting-alcohol-unlikely-to-have-teeth-1447893297",
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