Observer: Presidential Regulation On Alcohol Investments, Make Rules Is Easy, The Supervision Is Difficult

JAKARTA - Public policy observer, Agus Pambagio corrects his statement regarding Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 10 of 2021 concerning the Investment Business Sector which legalizes alcohol or liquor investment which has the potential to attract foreign capital.

According to him, it is not supporting the Presidential Regulation because the legalization of alcohol is able to attract foreign investment, but the income from foreign tourists is expected to decrease along with the lack of tourists visiting due to tightening regulations.

"So the government wants to make tourism (income, red) number two after oil and gas, so it needs to be paid attention. Because of this, tourists come everywhere they will definitely drink alcohol because they are casually relaxing at the bar, on the beach, or in the mountains. "Where, they are definitely looking for alcohol. Now that is allowed in Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, and Papua. That is what is allowed right there because it is (the majority) non-Muslims," said Agus to VOI, Monday, March 1.

"Meanwhile, in other places, we have tourist areas which are mostly Moslem because alcohol is haram according to Islam. If it is prohibited, tourists will not come there," he continued.

Agus said, of the four regions that were allowed a distribution permit for alcoholic beverages, only Bali was ready in infrastructure. So, these rules are still relevant outside of the interests of local wisdom.

"What is ready is only Bali. East Nusa Tenggara, the tourism infrastructure is incomplete, let alone Papua. North Sulawesi is also jammed with tourists," he said.

If enforced other than the four areas for tourist purposes, Agus said the destination would definitely be empty of foreign tourists if not allowed to consume alcohol. For example, in Yogyakarta where the area is still not open to the tourist culture like in Bali. So, it is not the main place for foreign tourists to vacation in Indonesia.

"If tourists in Jogja are not allowed to drink, Jogja will have no tourists. We are talking about foreign tourists, not local tourists. Then for example, in Riau Islands there is Bintan and the others, if it's not allowed (alcohol), so it's empty," he explained.

Agus also gave an example of a tourism area that is quiet for foreign tourists because of the many restrictions that apply in the area concerned. For example, when compared to Bali versus Lombok branding.

"Try to see Lombok and Bali, Lombok (is less crowded than Bali. Ed). Because there, in the beach cannot wear a bikini and then no alcohol, no tourists will come for sure," he said.

According to Agus, what people worry about is when people get drunk then they will harm others. So that the state must regulate how to implement these rules.

"Because if all of these are not allowed except for the four regions, tourism must be difficult to move because the good infrastructure of the four regions is only in Bali. Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, is still growing but not necessarily good because you only see the komodo dragons and the sea, people usually come once enough. Many places to see in Bali, so people can go back and forth. Then tourism will go down (if it prohibits alcohol in tourist areas visited by foreign tourists), that's the consequence," explained Agus.

Agus suggested that the government learn from the alcohol control system in foreign countries. Where minors are not allowed to buy alcoholic drinks. This is done by showing the identity card of the buyer.

"So it is regulated, for example, if you buy alcohol you have to show your Residential ID Card, which means that you are an adult. But who will be watching? What about mixed alcohol? There are many sources everywhere, how do you supervise them? So in my opinion, increase the supervision. If the Government Regulation comes out, yes, there are consequences, tourism income cannot be optimal because tourists want to relax and if it is prohibited, it will be tough," he said.

The government, he said, needed and had to create a supervisory scheme. Namely, the assignment of which party is responsible for overseeing the circulation of alcohol. So that the alcoholic beverage circulating legally are not misused to the point of causing harm.

"So here's about the alcohol, the rules are easy to make, including the Presidential Regulation but the supervision will be difficult. How to supervise it (if) alcohol is not prohibited from consumption. While there are lots of mixed-alcohol, intend to buy a Topi Miring brand but mixed with various mixture, people will die. How to control that situation? It is the implementation of our rules that is weak," Agus added.

Therefore, Agus assesses that the government must review how the supervision is related to the distribution of alcohol. Because he said, regulations could be easily made while their implementation was difficult.

"From a policy point of view, regulation-making must be appropriate. The policy is easy, the implementation is difficult. Here, if there is any violation, it is resolved with money," he said.