OVERVIEW

The regulation of, and social attitudes towards, alcohol in Indonesia has many facets. As a nation that legally entrenches is establishment based on the “Belief of God Almighty”,[1] philosophically, it can be said that Indonesia’s forefathers envisioned Indonesians living in accordance with religions teachings.    Although in the broadest sense the five mainstream religions in Indonesia teach different values differently, and although different local regional cultures further vary in their attitude relationship with alcohol, one common religious tenet is that “drunkenness is forbidden”.

The general aversion to alcohol can be found in the different religions’ sources of law.   Islam forbids the consumption of fermented drinks under their dietary laws, [2] Christianity and Catholicism discourages drunkenness due to its negative impacts, [3] Hindu teachings include a description of Naraka for those who drink alcohol,[4] and Buddhism promotes abstaining from liquor, wine and other intoxicants.[5]