Surabaya, the second-largest city in Indonesia, has approved a bylaw that forbids the production, consumption and distribution of alcoholic beverages, as the city’s governor Tri Rismaharini previously endorsed the ban.
The mayor is basing her decision to ban alcohol on recent cases of juvenile delinquencies, one of which involved the gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old student in Sumatra last month by a group of allegedly drunk teenagers.
Similarly, the Papuan government decided to ban alcoholic beverages in the region in March due to multiple crimes that led to deaths and injuries.
Concerned by the damage that alcohol can bring, In 2015 Tri Rismaharini disallowed the distribution of alcoholic beverages in minimarkets or supermarkets and is now planning to issue this new bylaw:
“In the near future, I’ll issue a mayoral bylaw to ban alcoholic beverages in Surabaya,” Rismaharini said as reported by The Jakarta Post.
The bylaw covers all kinds of alcoholic beverages, including traditional and mixed, that contain more than 10 percent alcohol.
Punishment for those who violate the regulation will include the issuance of warning letters, administration fines, temporary closure of business, revocation of business licences and the closure of business. Offenders will also face either three months of jail time or pay a fine of Rp.50 million.
Speaker of Surabaya Legislative Council, Armuji, said that Surabaya officials have previously consulted the bylaw with the Home Ministry to ensure that it remains consistent with other regulations:
“If in three months [Governor] Soekarwo does not respond to this bylaw, it would be enacted directly in Surabaya. The bylaw does not contradict to any [sic] regulation because we have consulted with the Home Ministry.”