Alcoholic Beverage Bill Discussed, Deputy Speaker Of The House Of Representatives: Society Should Not Be Excessive

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia Sufmi Dasco Ahmad. (Photo: dpr.go.id)

JAKARTA - Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, asked the public not to overdo it in their response to the Draft Law (RUU) on the Prohibition of Alcoholic Drinks. Because, the draft law is currently still in the stage of listening to proposals' explanations.

"For the current period, it is still in the stage of providing an explanation from the proposer to the Legislation Body (Baleg). So that the dynamics that develop in society, I don't think, need to be too much and we will see to what extent the process is," Dasco told reporters, Friday, November 13. .

It is known that this draft law was proposed by 21 members of the Indonesian Parliament, 18 of whom came from PPP, 1 person from the Gerindra Party, and 2 from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Returning to Dasco, he then explained that the Bill on the Prohibition of Alcoholic Drinks was actually not new. This is because this draft law has been discussed since the last period and was blocked for several reasons such as disrupting the liquor industry. Because it was previously blocked, the Bill on the Prohibition of Alcoholic Drinks was then repeated to the initial stage, namely hearing the explanation of the proposer to the DPR RI Baleg.

With this explanation, he then asked the public not to overly respond because this design would not necessarily be included in the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas). The Chairperson of the Gerindra Party also confirmed that the draft law would be discussed in a transparent manner.

Meanwhile, with regard to the rejection that occurs in the community, Dasco said, it is a common thing and is part of the dynamics of discussing a draft law.

"In fact, this is a dynamic in the deliberation of the bill in the DPR. In which objections and suggestions will be the concern of Baleg to pay more attention to the discussion of the proposals of the proposer," he said.

Previously, a member of the DPR RI Baleg from the United Development Party (PPP) faction, Illliza Sa'aduddin Jamal, said the bill was proposed to protect the public from drinking alcoholic beverages.

"This bill aims to protect society from negative impacts, create order and peace in society from alcoholic drinkers. This bill is also intended to raise public awareness about the dangers of alcoholic beverages," said Illiza as quoted from his written statement, Thursday, November 12.

He explained that there are several points on the proposed prohibition of alcoholic drinks. Among other things, the prohibition on Muslims and other religions from producing, importing, storing, distributing and / or selling, as well as consuming class A, B and C drinks, traditional alcoholic drinks, and mixed and concocted alcoholic drinks.

As proposer, Illiza said, the draft law will still maintain the plurality of society because there will be exceptions in its implementation.

"The prohibition of consuming alcoholic beverages is exempted for limited interests such as customary interests, religious rituals, tourism, pharmacy and places permitted by statutory regulations," he said.

Illiza said that this prohibition was needed because alcoholic drinks had not been specifically regulated in the form of legislation but were only included in the Criminal Code with a general article and was not explicitly stated in it. Thus, the discussion of the draft law on prohibition of alcoholic beverages should be continued and passed for the benefit of future generations.