Indonesia bans alcohol sales in 70,000 shops

New legislation has come into effect in Indonesia banning small retailers from selling most alcoholic beverages in a bid to reduce drinking in the Muslim-majority country.

Large supermarkets are still permitted to sell booze, as are hotels and restaurants, but approximately 70,000 local stores will be affected by the law, which prohibits the sale of beer, spirits and ready-to-drink beverages.

The Indonesian government stated the ban was necessary to protect young Muslims in the country, but has faced strong opposition from tourist spots such as Bali.

However, trade minister Rachmat Gobel, promised to relax restrictions on the island to ensure street vendors could still sell certain alcoholic beverages at the beach.

Indonesians are some of the lowest consumers of alcohol per capita in south-east Asia, as more than 90% of the population are Muslim and drinking alcohol goes against Islamic law.

Earlier this week, two political parties proposed legislation to impose a blanket ban on alcohol consumption in Indonesia and introduce jail terms of up to two years for offenders.

Last month, the Kerala High Court upheld a government decision to ban booze in India’s largest alcohol-consuming state, closing 300 bars and leaving just 24 five-star hotels with alcohol licences.