Arak is Bali’s traditional spirit: a clear, strong liquor distilled from fermented palm sap or from rice. For generations it was made in villages, poured at ceremonies and shared at family gatherings, with no labels and no rules. Since 2020 that has changed, and arak now turns up in cocktail bars across the island. Here is what you are drinking, and how to make sure it is the safe kind.
How arak is made
Most arak starts as tuak, the sap tapped from coconut or lontar palms and left to ferment, which is then distilled over a wood fire, sometimes more than once. Rice-based versions also exist. Villages in Karangasem in the east, including the hills around Sidemen, have a long distilling tradition; you will pass through this landscape on the way to places like Gembleng Waterfall.
Arak also has a place in Balinese Hindu ritual, where it is used in offerings, which is part of why the provincial government chose to protect it rather than ban it.
From grey market to regulation
On 29 January 2020 the Governor of Bali signed Governor Regulation No. 1 of 2020 on traditional fermented and distilled Balinese drinks. It recognised arak as part of the island’s culture and brought in licensing and production standards for producers. Two years later, Governor’s Decree No. 929/03-I/HK/2022 named 29 January Arak Bali Day, marking the date the regulation was signed.
Why safety still matters
Bali has had cases of methanol poisoning from illegal or adulterated spirits, sometimes fatal. Methanol cannot be tasted or smelled in a drink. The risk comes from unlabelled, home-bottled or suspiciously cheap liquor, not from licensed producers.
- Buy sealed, labelled bottles from shops, and look for a registration number from Indonesia’s food and drug agency, BPOM, on the label.
- Drink cocktails where you can see the bottle: in established bars and restaurants, not in bargain “buckets” or free welcome shots of unknown origin.
- Know the warning signs. Methanol symptoms can start many hours after drinking: blurred or changed vision, a severe headache, nausea, vomiting, breathing trouble. These are a medical emergency. Go to a hospital straight away and tell them what you drank.
How to drink it
Licensed arak is now sold in several styles, from neutral spirits for mixing to aged and flavoured versions. Bartenders use it in place of vodka or white rum, often with lime, ginger or local honey. If you want to try it neat, ask for a small pour at room temperature and treat it like any strong spirit.
Sources: ANTARA News Bali (“Gubernur Koster putuskan 29 Januari sebagai Hari Arak Bali”), CNN Indonesia (26 December 2022) and Kompas (29 January 2023) on Arak Bali Day and Governor Regulation No. 1 of 2020; Bali.com and Bali.live on licensed producers and methanol safety.
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