The Muslim Student Association of the Faculty of Law at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) held a legal awareness session on the topic “Regulations Governing the Distribution and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages in the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Their Social Impact.” The session took place on Wednesday (August 20, 2025), as part of the “Santai Siang” program on Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) Pro 2 Yogyakarta. This event was made possible through a collaboration between the Muslim Student Association of the Faculty of Law at Gadjah Mada University, the Center for Legal Consultation and Assistance (PKBH) of the UGM Faculty of Law, and RRI Yogyakarta.
This legal awareness campaign aims to raise awareness among the residents of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) regarding regulations on alcoholic beverages and the effects of consuming them. This topic was proposed in light of the increasing prevalence of social issues related to alcoholic beverages over the past few months. These range from criminal cases resulting from loss of consciousness after consuming alcohol, deaths due to overdose and poisoning, to public protests against the distribution of alcoholic beverages under the hashtag #JogjaDaruratMiras.
This outreach program was organized by the KMFH UGM grant team, consisting of undergraduate students from the UGM Faculty of Law’s class of 2023: Muhammad Adrian Giovanni and Muhammad Asyrof Al-Ghifari. For this event, the team invited Dr. Yulkarnain Harahab, S.H., M.Si., a lecturer from the Department of Islamic Law at the UGM Faculty of Law who teaches the course “Law and Society,” to serve as a guest speaker. Dr. Yulkarnain also possesses a relevant academic background, having studied legal sociology.
During the “Santai Siang” event, a brief yet comprehensive overview of alcoholic beverages was presented, covering their classifications, regulations, prohibitions, distribution, and impact on community life. Dr. Yulkarnain noted that closing stores that sell alcoholic beverages does not automatically stop their distribution. This is because alcoholic beverages are not only sold offline or through stores but also online. He also added that there are an increasing number of ways to promote alcoholic beverages, and many of these marketing efforts even target schoolchildren. Nevertheless, Dr. Yulkarnain also noted that not all alcoholic beverages in Yogyakarta are illegal. There are also alcoholic beverages that have obtained permits from the local government to be sold in specific locations such as 3-star and higher hotels, nightclubs, pubs, and tourist attractions.
Muhammad Asyrof Al-Ghifari also added that the distribution of alcoholic beverages is not solely the responsibility of sellers; the community also plays a role. Asyrof said that one reason why alcohol consumption is on the rise is that there is a group of people who actively seek to consume alcoholic beverages, given the large number of newcomers in Yogyakarta. In addition, there are vulnerable and marginalized groups who are targeted in the distribution of alcoholic beverages, particularly the distribution of adulterated alcoholic beverages.
In addition, Dr. Yulkarnain also noted that the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited within a 500-meter radius of school zones, but in reality, there are still unscrupulous vendors who continue to violate regulations governing the distribution of alcoholic beverages. He explained that this is because the fines imposed on violators are far smaller than the profits made by these vendors.
At the end of this legal awareness session, there was also an interactive Q&A session between the speaker and the audience. Many participants asked for advice on taking preventive measures against the dangers of alcoholic beverages. Dr. Yulkarnain advised that the most important thing is to start with oneself. He said that we must create a healthy environment and community life. We must also educate ourselves about the dangers posed by alcoholic beverages.
Furthermore, this activity was organized to support the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through raising awareness about the health impacts of alcoholic beverages and the risks of potential addiction; and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through regulations on the distribution of alcoholic beverages to ensure the sustainability of cities and their communities.
Author: KMFH UGM Grant Recipient.
