T

he second-largest city in Indonesia, Surabaya, has approved a bylaw that bans the production, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages.

“If in three months [Governor] Soekarwo does not respond to this bylaw, it would be enacted directly in Surabaya. The bylaw does not contradict to any regulation because we have consulted the Home Ministry,” Armuji, speaker of the Surabaya Legislative Council, said on Friday.

According to the bylaw, punishments would include the issuance of warning letters, administration fines, temporary closure of businesses, revocation of business licenses and the shutting down of businesses.

“Offenders would also face three months imprisonment or pay a fine of Rp 50 million. The bylaw covers any kind of alcoholic beverage, such as beer or others with more than 10 percent alcohol, including traditional beverages and mixed alcoholic beverages [oplosan],” Armuji said.

The mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini, said she agreed that alcoholic beverages should not be freely sold, like in minimarkets or supermarkets. “In the near future, I’ll issue a mayoral bylaw to ban alcoholic beverages in Surabaya.”