PPP Criticizes Alcohol Investment, Pushes Bill Of Prohibition Of Drinking Alcohol To Be Passed

JAKARTA - Secretary of the United Development Party (PPP) of the Parliament (DPR), Achmad Baidowi, highlighted the shooting case committed by Bripka (Chief Police Brigadier) CS because he was drunk due to liquor at RM Cafe, Cengkareng.

According to him, the government should pay attention to the bad effects of alcohol. Because of that, the PPP faction proposed that the Bill on the Prohibition of Alcoholic Drinks be passed immediately.

"We see the need for this regulation to avoid noise and the large number of casualties caused by alcohol", Awiek said in a statement received by VOI, Friday, February 26.

The DPR Commission VI member also mentioned the government's investment plan in the liquor or alcohol industry as stipulated in Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 10 of 2021 concerning the Investment Business Sector.

The deputy chairman of the DPR Legislation Body (Baleg) considers that the Government's plan to open up investment in the alcohol industry also needs to be considered. Given that the disadvantages are far greater than just the interests of profit.

The legislator from East Java is worried that it is not just the Bripka CS incident and the death of Japanese citizens after drinking alcohol, but the nation's future will be damaged if it is influenced by alcoholic drinks. Because he said, based on WHO data in 2016, the number of victims who died in the world due to alcoholic drinks was more than three million people.

"We are not anti-investment, but we support non-destructive investment. We also acknowledge local wisdom in several areas that need alcohol. However, it should be regulated in the form of law", said Awiek.

Previously, Indonesia was shocked by the death of Japanese citizens due to alcohol in September 2020. The Japanese Embassy even warned its citizens in Indonesia to be careful about consuming alcoholic drinks circulating in Jakarta.

Most recently, this alcoholic drink has claimed another victim involving law enforcement officers at RM Cafe, Cengkareng, early Thursday, February 25th. The incident killed three people at the same time as a result of brutal gunfire by police officers after drinking liquor.