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Revocation of alcohol bylaws doesn’t make alcohol legal: Minister
The cancellation of bylaws that ban alcohol in some regions had not legalized alcohol consumption, the cancellation was simply a way for such regulations to be amended in-line with national laws, Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said.
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A supervisor checks stock at an alcoholic beverage shop. (TEMPO/*)
T
span style="line-height: 1.6em;">The cancellation of bylaws that ban alcohol in some regions had not legalized alcohol consumption, the cancellation was simply a way for such regulations to be amended in line with national laws, Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said.
Bylaws that ban alcohol production, distribution, and consumption in some regions, including Yogyakarta and West Nusa Tenggara, had contradicted the existing national law, this had created overlapping impact, Tjahjo said.
"[The Home Ministry] will help to revise the bylaws in line with the National Law. The existing bylaws will be improved," Tjahjo said on Friday.
One focus of the revision is to regulate the distribution of alcohol so that it cannot be sold freely, without any control, Tjahjo said.
However, drinks might still be sold in upper-class hotels but, in such cases, consumption would be banned for all those considered to be underage, in accordance with national laws, Tjahjo said.
The minister voiced approval regarding the bylaw issued in Papua province recently that strengthens a regulation which prohibits free distribution of alcohol. The bylaw was allegedly aimed at saving Papuans from the negative impacts of alcohol consumption.
It was strengthened because the unregulated distribution and consumption of alcohol leads to the increase of sexual abuse and other forms of violence, Tjahjo said. (dan)
