Bali prohibition battle as Muslim conservatives increase their influence

By Jewel Topsfield
Updated April 26 2015 - 2:13pm, first published 1:15pm
"Bali can sell beers, they can still relax by the beach and buy cool Bintang there." Kuta beach vendor Kadek Nova assures his customers. He's pictured with Gede Bayu (black T-shirt) and Kadek Lucky.  Photo: Amilia Rosa
"Bali can sell beers, they can still relax by the beach and buy cool Bintang there." Kuta beach vendor Kadek Nova assures his customers. He's pictured with Gede Bayu (black T-shirt) and Kadek Lucky. Photo: Amilia Rosa
"Bali can sell beers, they can still relax by the beach and buy cool Bintang there." Kuta beach vendor Kadek Nova assures his customers. He's pictured with Gede Bayu (black T-shirt) and Kadek Lucky.  Photo: Amilia Rosa
"Bali can sell beers, they can still relax by the beach and buy cool Bintang there." Kuta beach vendor Kadek Nova assures his customers. He's pictured with Gede Bayu (black T-shirt) and Kadek Lucky. Photo: Amilia Rosa
Japanese tourists enjoy a sunset beer at the Menega Fish Cafe in Jimbaran Bay. Photo: Jason Childs
Japanese tourists enjoy a sunset beer at the Menega Fish Cafe in Jimbaran Bay. Photo: Jason Childs
An Australian couple drinks beer while watching the sunset at Legian Beach in Bali. Photo: RAHMAN ROSLAN
An Australian couple drinks beer while watching the sunset at Legian Beach in Bali. Photo: RAHMAN ROSLAN
Tourists relax in Bali. Photo: Jason Childs
Tourists relax in Bali. Photo: Jason Childs
"Bali can sell beers, they can still relax by the beach and buy cool Bintang there." Kuta beach vendor Kadek Nova assures his customers. He's pictured with Gede Bayu (black T-shirt) and Kadek Lucky.  Photo: Amilia Rosa
"Bali can sell beers, they can still relax by the beach and buy cool Bintang there." Kuta beach vendor Kadek Nova assures his customers. He's pictured with Gede Bayu (black T-shirt) and Kadek Lucky. Photo: Amilia Rosa
"Bali can sell beers, they can still relax by the beach and buy cool Bintang there." Kuta beach vendor Kadek Nova assures his customers. He's pictured with Gede Bayu (black T-shirt) and Kadek Lucky.  Photo: Amilia Rosa
"Bali can sell beers, they can still relax by the beach and buy cool Bintang there." Kuta beach vendor Kadek Nova assures his customers. He's pictured with Gede Bayu (black T-shirt) and Kadek Lucky. Photo: Amilia Rosa

Jakarta: In 1918, the Dutch government established the Alcoholbes trijdings Commissie​ to investigate the abuse of alcohol in the Dutch East Indies. Its findings were alarming. "The smell of alcohol filled the red light districts of Batavia [the former name for Jakarta]", according to Drunkenness in History by University of Indonesia history lecturer Kasijanto Sastrodinomo​.

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