Bali Governor Wayan Koster said a presidential regulation signed earlier this month will further the development of Bali’s own traditional liquor arak, marking a new chapter in the province’s push for the beverage to gain more commercial prominence.
“The existence of Presidential Regulation [Perpres] No. 10 Year 2021 is making arak, tuak, and brem from Bali a legal business to produce and develop,” Koster said during a press conference in Denpasar yesterday.
Tuak is a sweet drink from coconut palm flower while brem is a drink made of rice wine.
Last year, Koster issued a gubernatorial regulation on production and marketing of the beverage aimed at preserving and promoting the drinks. Under that regulation, producers of traditional Balinese fermented and distilled drinks will have to acquire licenses and pass food safety tests from the Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) to ensure that they meet quality and hygiene standards.
The regulation served as a relief for traditional liquor producers and sellers, who in the past had to deal with authorities for doing either or both.
Koster emphasized this week how the Perpres signed by President Joko Widodo on Feb. 2 further strengthens the regulation he has issued and opens up investment opportunities on the traditional liquor.
In addition, the governor also signaled upcoming policies that will specifically address business and industrial development for these Balinese fermented and distilled drinks, which will work closely with the traditional producers.
