Alcohol Regulations in Indonesia You Must Know

Review by : Yuli SE., MM

In almost of western country, drinking alcohol sometimes is a need. You can find alcohol as easy as you want, as long as you have been up to 18 years old. However, you would find the different things in Indonesia. The usage of alcohol in Indonesia is very limited. Moreover, almost of Indonesians embrace Islam as their religion. In this belief, drinking alcoholic beverages is totally banned. That is why the use of alcohol is limited. The rule and regulation of alcohol is tightened by the government of Indonesia. Here, we provide alcohol regulations in Indonesia.

The classes of Alcohol

In Article 3 paragraph (1) of Presidential Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia No. 74 of 2013 the alcoholic beverage is classified into 3 classes:

Alcoholic Beverages class A is a beverage containing ethyl alcohol or ethanol (C₂H₅OH) at levels up to 5% (five percent). The examples of this product that exists in Indonesia such as Bir Bintang, Green sand, Anker Bir, San Migue
Alcoholic beverages of class B are beverages containing ethyl alcohol or ethanol (C₂H₅OH) with levels greater than 5% (five percent) to 20% (twenty percent). The examples of the products are Malaga Wine, Kolesom cap 39 Wine, Ketan Hitam Wine, Orang Tua Wine, Shochu, Creme Cacao, dan other wines that are widespread in Indonesia.
Alcoholic Beverages class C is a beverage containing ethyl alcohol or ethanol (C₂H₅OH) with a content of more than 20% (twenty percent) to 55% (fifty-five percent). The sample products such as Mansion of House, Scotch Brandy, Stevenson, Tanqueray, Vodca, and Brandy could find Indonesia.

Alcoholic beverages may only be traded by business traders who have licenses to trade alcoholic beverages in accordance with their classification in Article 3 paragraph (1) of Perpres 74/2013 of Rules of trade ministry.

The Permission of Alcoholic Beverages Selling

There are two kinds of regulation for alcoholic beverage selling, such as dine in and retail. Dine in beverages selling just may be sold in several places like hotels, Restaurants, Bars in accordance with the laws and regulations in the field of tourism; and certain other places determined by the Regents / Mayors and Governors for the Province of Jakarta Capital Special Region.

While for the retail, alcoholic beverages Class A could be sold in certain places like duty free shop, mini market, super market, hypermarket, and other places who own the permission from the local government. This means that as long as the entertainment venue (such as a bar) or a food court has the permission to sell alcoholic beverages and sell alcoholic beverages according to the class allowed to be sold there, it can be done.

The Promotion of the Alcoholic Product

Basically there is no provision that prohibits the promotion of beer products by giving a gift of beer on every purchase of a certain amount of beer. While on the terms of promotion, based on regulations, beer should not be advertised in any mass media. While the promotion of beer in the entertainment place, café, restaurants, or bar by giving the buyer a lottery coupon when buying alcoholic beverages, it is not prohibited.

If distributors, Sub-Distributors, Direct Sellers, and Resellers advertising alcoholic beverages in any mass media are subject to administrative sanctions in the form of revocation of the permission.

The Place for the selling Alcoholic Products

Alcoholic beverages of class A, class B, and class C can only be sold in (Article 7 paragraph (1) of Perpres 74/2013): hotels, bars and restaurants meeting the requirements of the laws and regulations in the field of tourism; duty free shops; and certain places other than letters a and b determined by Regents / Mayors and Governors for the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, with the requirement that the shop is not closed with the places of worship, educational institutions, and hospitals.
Alcoholic Beverages class A can also be sold at retail stores in packaged form. The beverages such as beer can be sold in retail stores such as minimarkets, supermarkets, hypermarkets. However, the retailer must have a floor area of at least 12 square meters of sales. Not any store can be a retailer of alcoholic beverages because there are strict rules in force.
The sale of Alcoholic Beverages is done separately with other items of sale. It might not be mixed with other products of beverages. The last requirement is there must be a warning that this is alcoholic products.

Indonesians under 21 years old are prohibited to drink alcohol

In the Permendag (Rules of trade ministry,) it is also explained that the sale of alcoholic drinks class A can only be given to consumers who have aged 21 years or more by showing identity card (KTP) to the shop officer or clerk. It means that the underage of 21 might not buy any alcoholic products in supermarket. Drinking alcohol at a young age can also endanger the development of the brain. The main reason is, the brain continues to develop from birth to adolescence, and mid-20s. (Read also: Teenagers Lifestyle in Indonesia)

In the United States, drinking too much alcohol is the leading cause of injury deaths among young people. Alcohol contributes to deaths from motor vehicle accidents, homicides, suicides, and other injuries such as falls, burns, and drowning. Alcohol consumption also plays a role in risky sexual activity. People who are under the influence of alcohol tend to engage in risky, unconscious sexual activity. This behavior can increase the likelihood of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV-AIDS. That is why Indonesia banned alcohol for underage.

Those are the regulations of alcohol in Indonesia. Basically, drinking alcohol in Indonesia is not totally prohibited. The government tries to limit the use of alcoholic beverages for young generations. However, if you want to drink alcohol in Indonesia, you have to notice these regulations above. In addition, you might not be permitted to drink alcohol in front of the children, recreational places, and also public places.