With conservative lawmakers in Indonesia, this week make another push to ban alcohol with a controversial law, some party argues the potential dangers of the law, especially in popular tourist destinations like Bali.
According to AA Ngurah Adi Ardhana, who is a member of the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) in Bali, the studies that underlie the draft bill are “too shallow”.
At least, twenty-one lawmakers from the conservative Islamic party, Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS) and Partai Pembangunan Pembangunan (PPP), and the one from Gerindra Party, came up with their arguments at the Legislation Body (Baleg) of DPR for having the draft bill concerning the Prohibition of Alcoholic Drinks (the Minol Prohibition Draft Bill) was passed into a Law.
The draft bill has stalled in parliament since it was initiated by the same group in 2015.
Ngurah’s statement noted Indonesia’s official recognition of six religions, five of them – including Hinduism, the majority religion in Bali province – do not explicitly prohibit alcohol consumption.
Many have raised concerns over the potential validation of such a draft bill, which would affect the entire country in the economy, tourism, and public health sectors.
It’s no secret that tourists visiting Bali love to drink, and it should be noted that earlier this year that Bali’s own traditional drink called arak was legalized.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster views the ratification of arak as the first step to become a major contributor to the regional economy.
