ALCOHOLIC DRINKS IN INDONESIA: TYPES, BANS AND DEATHS

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS IN INDONESIA

Bali arak

Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country and therefore alcoholic beverages are not widely consumed or available at most restaurants. However, in certain areas they can be had. Beer is widely available at Chinese restaurants and and beer, alcohol and wine are widely available at Western-style hotels, bars and restaurants. The only straight-up bars are in the cities and tourist areas. Alcohol can be really hard to get around Ramadan, and don't drink it in front of Muslims at that time. But despite this, and the the fact that 87 percent of Indonesia's population is Muslim, alcohol consumption has been rising for past couple decades.

Alcohol has been consumed in Indonesia for centuries, and it is an integral part of cultural and religious ceremonies among some of the country’s more than 300 ethnic groups. The local alcoholic beverages industry that produce spirits, beer and cider was valued at $600 million in the mid 2010s. [Source: Joe Cochran, New York Times September 2, 2016] Alcohol consumption is prohibited in Aceh province, where sharia (Islamic law) is in place. Nationwide, alcohol sales are forbidden in small, independent minimarkets, though permitted in larger supermarkets, hotels, bars, and restaurants.

Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 estimate); beer: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 estimate); wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 estimate); spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 estimate) (2019 estimate) [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2025]

Kinds of Alcoholic Drinks in Indonesia

Lapo tuak

Alcoholic drinks found in Indonesia include tuak (palm wine), ciu (Chinese wine), brem (rice wine) and arak (strong alcohol). Beer is the most widely consumed alcoholic drink. Even among non-Muslims wine is not widely consumed. Johnnie Walker has a following. In tourist areas you can get exotic drinks with cherries and little umbrellas.

Arak is a potent drink made from distilled rice spirit, or fermented molassesor palm sap . “Arrak Beras” is vermouth-like drink made from rice and flavored with herbs. Tourists like to drink arak mixed with Sprite or 7UP. An "arak attack" is arak mixed with lemonade and lime juice)

Brem", usually home-produced, is a rice wine made from glutinous rice and coconut milk. Old 'brem' (more than three days old) is sour and contains more alcohol, whereas new 'brem' is sweeter and packs less of a punch. “Bali Brem” is foul-tasting but potent rice wine. Imported wine and whiskey are expensive.

Tuak" is a mildly alcoholic palm toddy brewed from various palm sugars a month before consumption. It provides a mellow, slow-motion high and is is prepared by filling a length of hollow bamboo with palm juice and burying it in the ground for a week to allow fermentation to take place. It is very popular in non-Muslim regions of Indonesia. 'Tuak from north Sumatra is made from fermented palm sap. It is greenish, watery and has about the same kick as beer.

Bir Pletok is the perfect drink for keeping warm at night. Its main ingredients are ginger, cardamom, lemongrass, cinnamon, kayumanis and sugar. The name 'pletok' has unique origins. During the Dutch colonial period, Japanese invaders were often seen drinking beer at checkpoints. The Betawi people did not want to lose out. They made their own beer by putting it into a bamboo tube and mixing it with ice cubes. When the bamboo tube is shaken, a 'pletok-pletok' sound is produced, hence the name. Bir Pletok is believed to have various health benefits, including relieving heat, preventing colds and warming the stomach. [Source: Indonesiandrinks.com]

Beer and Wine in Indonesia

The most popular brands of beer are Bintang Baru (made with he help of Heniken), Anker. San Miguel, and Tiger. Bintang is a light, malty lager with an alcohol content of 5 percent. It was first brewed by the Dutch and still has a Dutch flavor. Dutch beer goes so well with Indonesian food. Heineken taught Indonesians how to brew the country's ubiquitous pilsner-style 'Bintang' lager, which is the perfect accompaniment to Indonesia's hot, spicy cuisine and has won awards.

San Miguel is part owner of P.T. Delta Jakarta, Indonesia's second largest brewer. San Miguel is one of the top three selling brands of beer in Asia and the largest selling foreign beer in China. The companie is based in the Philippines and has several breweries there, There is a San Miguel brewery in Hong Kong. San Miguel is also involved in breweries in Vietnam and Indonesia.

The largest alcohol company is Multi Bintang Indonesia, which brews Bintang, the national beer, and is also the local brewer of Heineken and Guinness. The company — which opened in 1931, when Indonesia was under Dutch rule — operates the first Heineken brewery opened outside of the Netherlands, had net sales of $220 million in 2015 and had a market capitalization of more than $1 billion at that time. The company invested $50 million in 2014 and 2015 years to upgrade and expand its operations, Michael Chin, the company’s president director, told the New York Times. [Source: Joe Cochran, New York Times September 2, 2016]

There are very few wineries in Indonesia but Bali had three in the 2010s. On Bali there are a number of grape growing areas mainly on the north coast. The wineries generally produce natural wines without coloring or flavoring and made from local grapes. While in Bali, try “markissa”, an alcoholic drink made with passion fruit.

Alcoholic Drinks in Bali

Traditional beverages have long played an important role in ritual ceremonies in Bali. Many were originally made specifically for religious use, though some are now produced more widely for public consumption. Among the most well-known are:

Arak Bali is a clear, strong liquor distilled from tuak, known for its high alcohol content. It has traditionally been consumed in colder mountainous areas and is also used in ceremonies and medicinal practices, especially in spiced forms such as arak ijung. Because it can be stored for long periods, it is now produced commercially and exported. [Source: Bali Tourism Board; Bali Tourism Information 2008 book published by Bali Government Tourism Office]

Arak is deeply embedded in Balinese culture. It is used in ceremonies to ward off evil spirits, in traditional medicine, and in practices such as boreh (a body scrub for sore muscles). It also plays a social role in gatherings and provides an important source of income for many villagers, highlighting the tension between cultural tradition and public health concerns.

Tuak is a traditional alcoholic drink made from the sap of various trees. When derived from coconut palms it is called tuak nyuh (or tuak putih), while sap from the jaka tree produces tuak jaka (or tuak gading). It varies in sweetness and alcohol content, with tuak manis being sweeter and milder. Unlike some other drinks, tuak is usually consumed fresh and is less commonly marketed. High-quality varieties are associated with eastern and northern Bali.

Brem is a sweet, low-alcohol beverage made from fermented white glutinous rice. It is one of the three key drinks used in Balinese ceremonies and social occasions.

Arak and Brem Production in Bali

Eagle brand Balinese brem

The main center of arak production in Bali — Sidemen — supports more than 300 farmers who rely on the spirit for their livelihood. Local producer Ketut Mertika told Yak magazine: “I learned how to make arak from my grandfather, who learned how to make it from his grandfather. It is a village tradition.” Each morning at around 4:00 a.m., Ketut collects sap from palm trees on his land. This sap ferments into tuak, a mildly alcoholic, cloudy drink. “Tuak only tastes good for one day,” he said. “After that it goes bad, so it’s better to make arak with the tuak.” [Source: Stephanie Mee, Yak magazine March/April/May, 2013, southeastasiawanders.com, July 17, 2013]

To produce arak, the tuak is distilled in metal stills over low heat, and the resulting clear spirit is collected in containers. It takes about four days to produce roughly 28 liters, which are then sold to distributors for around Rp.200,000, with higher-alcohol batches fetching higher prices. Ketut emphasized traditional methods: “We never add anything to the arak that we produce here.”

Ida Bagus Rai Budarsa’s family has produced brem since 1968, later expanding into arak in 1992 and wine production in 1994. His company produces about 1,000 bottles of arak monthly, mainly for hotels and shops in Bali. Their arak is made under regulated conditions, distilled using imported copper stills, and tested to meet international standards before bottling.

Although commercial production often uses fermented rice, Budarsa recognizes the value of traditional palm-based arak from Karangasem. He has suggested forming cooperatives so local producers could supply tuak while companies handle distillation and marketing, but many producers have chosen to continue operating independently.

Bad — Nearly Fatal — Arak in Bali

When 45-year-old Nyoman Laka accepted a drink from his employer one morning in Ubud, he did not expect it to nearly cost him his life. Like many Balinese laborers, he began the day with a shot of arak, a traditional spirit believed to warm the body and prepare workers for physically demanding tasks. [Source: Stephanie Mee, Yak magazine March/April/May, 2013, southeastasiawanders.com, July 17, 2013]

Nyoman, who worked digging wells, often received arak from his employer before starting work. On this occasion, however, the drink had been contaminated with methanol, a highly toxic substance. “After I drank the arak, I went to the rice field to work, but I didn’t feel well at all, so I went home,” he said. “Shortly after, I began throw up blood, and then I passed out… I woke up one day later… and could not see properly.” A coworker who drank the same arak later died.

Nyoman spent two weeks in the hospital suffering from methanol poisoning, which can cause dizziness, blindness, convulsions, organ failure, and death. Although he eventually regained his sight, many victims are not as fortunate.

In another case, 19-year-old Liam Davies drank what he believed to be a vodka cocktail on Lombok. The drink was later found to contain methanol-laced arak. After falling seriously ill, he was flown to Australia, where he was declared brain dead, and his family chose to end life support.

Such incidents involving tourists and locals have led to international concern, media coverage, and travel warnings about bootleg alcohol in Indonesia. Arak, in particular, has gained a reputation as a dangerous drink when improperly produced or adulterated.

Why There Are Issues with Arak Safety in Bali

Although arak producers take pride in their craft and traditions, quality control becomes uncertain once the product leaves their hands. Unless purchased directly from producers or trusted vendors, consumers cannot be sure what has been added or altered along the supply chain. [Source: Stephanie Mee, Yak magazine March/April/May, 2013, southeastasiawanders.com, July 17, 2013]

Ida Bagus Rai Budarsa said: “I understand that people have concerns about drinking arak in Bali… even for me, I would not want to drink something that might make me sick. But if you want to drink arak, there are things you can do to be safe.” He advised choosing reputable brands and being cautious about where alcohol is consumed, warning, “If a bar is offering free-flow drinks, think about how they can do that without losing money.”

Ketut Merika said “Maybe other people want to make more money, so they water down the arak or add things like methanol to make it taste stronger. If our arak made people sick, nobody would buy it and the government would crack down hard on us. Why would we want to lose our business?” Budarsa agreed, arguing that contamination issues often occur away from production areas: “The people in Karangasem never seem to have problems with methanol poisoning… I think the problem is not the arak, it’s the middlemen who tamper with it.”

High alcohol taxes in Indonesia have further complicated the situation. Imported spirits are expensive, pushing consumers toward cheaper alternatives, including locally produced alcohol. However, even legitimate producers face high costs due to licensing requirements, facility permits, and product registration.

Tax policies have intensified the issue. In 2010, the government raised alcohol excise taxes to between 100 and 214 percent, depending on alcohol content. Officials defended the move as a way to protect public health, but it also encouraged the growth of black-market production and distribution.

While higher prices may have reduced consumption among some, they have also driven others to seek lower-cost options, sometimes with dangerous consequences. To cut costs, unethical vendors may dilute or substitute alcohol, occasionally adding harmful substances such as methanol to increase potency.

Dozens Die from Bootleg Alcohol in Java

In February 2016, at least 24 people died in central Java from drinking illegally-produced alcohol. According to the BBC: Most died after buying the black-market spirits, made from ethanol, water and fruit, from a couple in Sleman, north of Yogyakarta city. Several people were also taken to hospital. The alleged maker and seller of the drink has been arrested. "Most of the victims were students," Sleman's police chief told AFP.[Source: BBC, February 8, 2016]

It is not the first time moonshine has killed people in Muslim-majority Indonesia. More than a dozen Indonesians died after drinking it at new year celebrations in 2014, and 25 people, four of them foreigners, died after drinking palm wine laced with methanol in Bali in 2009. In such cases, the alcohol often contains methanol—which is sometimes added to drinks to make them stronger. The small proportion of those who consume alcohol in Muslim-majority Indonesia sometimes opt for homemade drinks, because legally produced alcohol is relatively expensive as it is heavily taxed and much is imported.

A few days after the New Year’s incident in 2014, AFP reported that 16 Indonesians died and nine were are fighting for their lives after drinking bootleg alcohol to celebrate New Year's Eve. Police arrested a couple suspected of producing and distributing the alcohol to roadside stalls in the town of Mojokerto in eastern Java, where the victims bought it. It is thought the locally produced alcohol, believed to be made from palm tree sap or rice, contained poisonous methanol, Awi Setiyono, police spokesman for East Java province, told AFP. Those that drank the alcohol to celebrate New Year began falling ill in the following days and died over several days. "We suspect that the drink contains methanol but we can only confirm that after we have the results of laboratory tests," Setiyono said. [Source: AFP, January 6, 2014]

The Center for Indonesian Policy Studies in Jakarta, citing local media reports, said there were 453 deaths and 373 injuries from drinking alcohol between 2012 and 2016. According to the New York Times: All were from illegally distilled alcohol, locally known as “oplosan,” which can contain a variety of substances including methanol, medicinal alcohol, fruit extract and toxic substances such as mosquito repellent. And 83 percent of those deaths occurred in autonomous districts with Shariah-inspired bans or restrictions on the sale of alcohol, said the center’s executive director, Rainer Heufers. He said laws banning alcohol “do not increase public morality and health. Instead, they push the consumption from legally produced and traded alcohol to illegally produced and traded alcohol, which leads to more deaths and injuries.” [Source: Joe Cochran, New York Times September 2, 2016]

Indonesia Bans the Sale of Alcohol in Small Shops

A new law banning the sale of alcohol in small shops went into effect force in Indonesia in April 2015. Alcohol can still be sold in supermarkets, hotels and food outlets, but some 70,000 local stores were no longer be allowed to stock it because of the law. The government said the restrictions were necessary to protect young people, But the law was sharply condemned, particularly in Bali, which depends heavily on the tourist trade. Some critics said that it would push people towards consuming illicit alcohol. [Source: BBC, April 16, 2015]

On Bali there were concerns that the ban could severely hurt the tourism industry by making it illegal for vendors to sell alcohol to tourists on beaches, for example.’ A government official told the BBC that less stringent regulations may be introduced for certain Bali beach traders, but the plan has not yet been finalised.

Earlier, two Islamic parties proposed an even stricter measure: outlawing alcohol altogether. They want to make it illegal to produce or sell alcoholic drinks, and for anyone caught drinking alcohol to face a jail term of up to five years, the Jakarta Post reported. . One lawmaker, Abdul Hakim of the Prosperous Justice Party, told Reuters that it was 'purely for the protection of the nation's children' and not a religious or ideological issue.Bali and five-star hotels would be excluded from the ban.

Efforts to Ban Alcohol in Indonesia

Bill to bans to ban alcohol were proposed in 2009 and 2014. In the mid 2010s, the Indonesia parliament debated legislation backed by the Islamic-based United Development Party (P.P.P.) that would ban beer, wine and spirits sales across Indonesia. The effect for Bali would be something like the end of the world, I.B. Agung Partha, the chairman of the Bali Tourism Board told the New York Times. “Hotels have bars, restaurants have bars, and they serve alcohol — this is just part of tourism,” he said. “This bill is just no good.” [Source: Joe Cochran, New York Times September 2, 2016]

The proposed law in Indonesia sought to ban the production, distribution, sale, consumption, and possession of alcohol for both citizens and foreign visitors, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison. The measure was backed by Islamic political parties and supported by some hard-line groups. Supporters argued the ban was necessary for public health. Mohammad Arwani Thomafi said, “Prohibition should be a legal requirement to protect the public,” citing “dozens” of alcohol-related deaths each year. However, those deaths were linked not to legally sold alcohol in bars or stores, but to illicit, often contaminated spirits produced in an underground market.

Critics questioned the motives behind the bill, arguing that health concerns were being used to justify a broader push toward stricter religious influence. They warned that such legislation could move the country closer to an Islamic legal framework, despite Indonesia’s secular system. Opposition figures emphasized concerns about civil liberties. Rudolf Dethu said, “For me, it’s all about pluralism and human rights… It’s not just about alcohol — there’s something bigger behind this.” He cautioned that restrictions could expand into other aspects of personal behavior.

Alcohol bans had been proposed before but gained little support in Indonesia’s diverse, multi-faith society. Opponents argue the ban is "impractical and unrealistic," likely to increase the black market for dangerous counterfeit alcohol and harm tourism. A survey by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that most respondents did not view alcohol consumption as a major health crisis. “The Indonesian public does not consider this alcohol issue an urgent matter, but some of our politicians do,” said David Christian, a researcher with the group.

Efforts to introduce an alcohol ban were revived in 2020 and 2021 but as before have gotten stuck in working committees. Rather than an total ban, the debate often shifts toward stricter taxation and licensing regulations rather than total prohibition. As of early 2026, discussions were ongoing regarding modifying local regulations, such as in Tangerang, rather than passing a nationwide ban, suggesting a move towards localized zoning over a blanket ban.

Anti-Alcohol Vigilantes In Indonesia

The the Islamic Defenders Front is a vigilante group known for occasionally smashing up bars that it views as affronts to Islam and forcibly closing Christian churches and the mosques of Muslim minorities. They have also defaced Britney Spears posters, denounced Pamela Anderson’s charitable work and threatened Lady Gaga and Miss World beauty pageant contestants. [Source: Joe Cochrane, New York Times, October 26, 2013]

After the fall of Suharto, some conservative voices in Indonesia argued that newfound freedoms led to a rise in social problems, including alcohol consumption. Tubagus Muhammed Siddiq claimed that across Java, drinking, gambling, and prostitution became more visible, while authorities failed to control them. “My neighborhood was one of the worst. Three straight blocks of gambling and drinking,” he said, describing what he viewed as a moral decline. [Source: Patrick Winn, .minnpost.com, December 14, 2010]

In response, Siddiq and like-minded activists helped form the Islamic Defenders Front, which positioned itself as a force against alcohol and other perceived social vices. The group organized raids on locations associated with drinking and nightlife, framing its actions as a defense of Islamic values. “Society is diseased… with a social infection that violates Shariah,” Siddiq said, linking alcohol consumption to broader moral concerns.

From this perspective, alcohol was seen not just as a personal choice but as part of a wider threat tied to modernization and Western influence. Supporters argued that stricter controls were necessary to protect society, particularly younger and lower-income populations who they believed were most vulnerable.

The group’s activities expanded beyond opposing alcohol to targeting nightclubs, events, and communities they associated with moral decline. Public campaigns and direct action made them highly visible, reinforcing their stance that drinking and nightlife culture were harmful influences that should be eliminated. At the same time, critics—including many ordinary Indonesians—worried that such hardline approaches threatened the country’s tradition of religious moderation. While alcohol remained legally available and widely consumed in places like Jakarta, opponents of drinking continued to view it as a “creeping cancer” undermining social values.

During Ramadan, the Islamic Defenders Front has vowed to conduct 'raids' on shops, clubs and bars serving alcohol according to Agence France-Presse. At first glance, this seems unnecessary: police in the capital, Jakarta, already force nearly 1,800 bars, massage parlours, pool halls and other alcohol-serving establishments to limit their opening hours or close altogether during the holy month. Senior officials have instructed the Islamic Defenders Front to stand down and allow the police to do their job. But the vigilantes are undeterred. A senior member of the group told the Jakarta Globe that 'it's common knowledge that many law enforcement officers support immoral establishments', and threatened to target any bar, regardless of its ties to the police. [Source: Global Post, July 11, 2013]

The vigilantes are particularly determined to stop the serving of alcohol at Jakarta's nightclubs. 'If you commit an evil act in your own home, that is a matter between you and God,' Tubagus Muhammed Siddiq, a co-founder of the Islamic Defenders Front, told GlobalPost in 2011. 'But if you do it in public, before my eyes, that is a matter for me. Because if we see it, we must eradicate it.'

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources:“Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 5: East/Southeast Asia:” edited by Paul Hockings, 1993; “Culture and Customs of Indonesia” by Jill Forshee, Greenwood Press, 2006; National Geographic, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Encyclopedia.com, Library of Congress, Indonesia Tourism website (indonesia.travel), Indonesia government websites, Live Science, The Conversation, The New Yorker, Time, BBC, CNN, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Google AI, Wikipedia, The Guardian and various websites, books and other publications.

Last updated April 2026