Jakarta
As certain House of Representatives factions seek to resurrect a long-stalled alcohol prohibition bill, alcoholic beverage companies are preparing for additional regulations but oppose outright prohibition. Of the 21 lawmakers that spearheaded the effort to revive the bill, 18 were from the Islam-based United Development Party (PPP), two were from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and one was from the nationalist Gerindra party. They requested that the House Legislation Body (Baleg) resume deliberations on the bill, which was put on hold in 2016. Indonesian Alcoholic Beverages Producers Association (APBMI) head Stefanus said that in principle, he was not opposed to the supervision and control of alcohol – if that was what the House aiming for. “But we should not fully prohibit alcoholic beverages. If we do the latter, we will be like America in the early 1900s when ...