The prohibition on producing, storing, distributing and consuming type A (1 to 5 percent alcoholic content), type B (5 to 10 percent) and type C (20 to 45 percent) beverages is covered in articles 5, 6 and 7 of the bill, a copy of which was made available to thejakartapost.com.

Exemptions to the ban are listed as “limited interests” in Article 8 of the bill and include alcohol to be used in indigenous rituals, religious rituals, for tourism purposes, pharmaceutical use and at several places that are allowed by the regulation.

Details of the limited interests will be stipulated in government regulations.

Moh. Arwani Thomafi, chairman of the House’s special team on the prohibition bill, said on Monday that relevant parties, including companies involved in the liquor business, would have to adjust their operations after the bill was passed into the law.

He said, however, that lawmakers would carefully scrutinize the bill before endorsing it. "It is just the initial bill, which needs improvements," said Thomafi in Jakarta on Monday.

Abdul Fikri, a committee member, said deliberation would be completed in June. “The deliberation starts in the sitting session starting May 17, with the government represented by the Trade Ministry,” Abdul said.

Abdul said the title of the bill had become a burning issue after the special committee was established in October last year.

He said the committee had proposed a number of options for title of the bill, namely the alcohol prohibition bill; alcohol prohibition, control and supervision bill; alcohol control and supervision bill; and the alcohol bill. Meanwhile, the government has insisted on calling it the alcohol control and supervision bill. (bbn)

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