REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesian House of Representatives is  drafting a bill to regulate the production, circulation and consumption of alcohol in Indonesia. Entitled 'Laws on Prohibition of Alcohol', the laws will be applied nationally, as cited on Article 8 in the draft that is consist of 20 articles. The bill is initiated by United Development Party (PPP) faction. 

A member of Local House of Representatives in North Sumatera, Rahmat Shah, said the bill could be signed into law as long as it did not contradict local culture. He explained that the tradition of drinking alcohol in North Sumatera was a symbol of intimacy within family.

Meanwhile, Vice Secretary General of Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle, Achmad Basarah, said that the draft has some weakness from academic point of view. He urged all factions to discuss the background, aims and target of the law and suggested the PPP to actively socialize the bill to public.

The Head of Public Relations and Protocol in Denpasar Local Government, Ida Bagus Rahoela, said people in Denpasar did not demur with the draft. Instead, Rahoela said the bill, would help local government to control alcohol sales.

"Without regulation, alcohol sales cause some problems," Rahoela said on Tuesday.

However, full ban of alcohol sales seems impossible in Bali as several religious events involve traditional alcohol. Several foreign tourists also often ask for alcohol.

"We need to rule the sales, not fully ban the alcohol," he said.

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