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)