Rules restricting alcohol unlikely to have 'teeth'

Rules restricting alcohol unlikely to have 'teeth'

JAKARTA (JP): Religious leaders have expressed skepticism over
the enforcement of the government's new regulations on alcohol
sales.

The chairman of the city's Moslem Preachers Corps, Ahmad
Sumargono, said on Monday that restricting the sale of alcohol
was a good move.

"All regulations are good but the problem is always the lack
of supervision," he said.

The ministerial decrees, issued by the industry and trade
ministry on Oct. 15, limit the sale of alcohol in pubs, clubs and
restaurants to six hours -- from noon to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10
p.m.

Those wanting to purchase alcohol will only be permitted to do
so at duty free shops, three-, four- and five-star hotels and
certain licensed bars, pubs and restaurants.

Ahmad said the implementation of regulations always fell short
of the mark because Indonesians lack discipline.

"Moreover, this business is attractive because alcohol has its
own appeal and government officials and businesspeople are
involved."

People are also afraid that the new regulations may lead to
collusion between authorities and businesspeople because
"everything can be arranged", he said.

Ahmad said he fully supported the restriction which limits
alcohol sales to hotels and certain licensed venues.

"What is damaging is the sale (of alcohol) at stalls where
low-income people can afford to buy it," he said

The secretary of the Jakarta chapter's Indonesian Ulemas
Council, Cholid Fadlullah, shared Ahmad's view.

"What is needed is a kind of ban," he said. "To calm the
people I think the government should create a law which bans
alcohol but has certain tolerating clauses."

He said these clauses should apply to the sale of alcohol for
foreigners at luxury hotels and the use of alcohol for certain
religious reasons.

Cholid also agreed with the limitation on alcohol sales.

"I think the sale of alcohol at (specific) places is no
problem because they only cater to certain people."

He said attention should be paid to the use of alcohol in
relation to crime.

Cholid said the nation's alcohol problem could be eliminated
if public figures were actively involved in campaigns that
highlighted the danger of alcohol consumption and government
officials were consistent in implementing the regulations.

The Jakarta chairman of Indonesia's Communion of Churches,
Johnny Anthonius Assa, also expressed his skepticism over the
regulations.

He said that the regulation did not really solve the problem
because it still permitted the sale of alcohol to certain people.

"If the government really wanted to combat the alcohol
problem, all sales would be totally prohibited."

However, if the use of alcohol was for health and religious
reasons it was understandable, he said.

"But permitting the sale for tourist-related reasons can't be
accepted." (05)