Photo – AFP
This is a human-supervised, AI-assisted translation of the original Burmese ISP Column article by Maung Maung, published on September 11, 2025.
Alcohol, beer, and spirits are recreational products widely enjoyed by people across the globe. In many countries, these are legally available and consumed by a large number of people. However, in Myanmar, there is one region where beer is completely absent, the territories controlled by the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine State.
In AA-controlled areas of Rakhine, the new authority bans all alcoholic beverages — beer, liquor, wine, and other intoxicants either produced domestically or imported since December 2024. The authorities initiated a boycott, arguing that consuming junta-produced goods tends to supply the military regime with resources, akin to “providing bullets” to the State Administration Council (SAC). As a result, local regulations were enforced to halt the import and sale of these products. Initially, alcohol consumers in Rakhine scrambled to find remaining stocks of junta-produced liquor, skyrocketing prices in the black market. For instance, a bottle of Grand Royal Special Reserve Whisky (locally known as “Golden Grand”) sold for 120,000 kyats, Grand Royal Signature (“Blue Grand”) for 100,000 kyats, Grand Royal Black (“Black Grand”) for 70,000 kyats, and Grand Royal Smooth (“Smooth Grand”) for 70,000 kyats. However, eventually, unable to sustain such costs, consumers turned to local moonshine.
Today, locally produced spirits have gained prominence. With no other options, those accustomed to alcohol have shifted to traditional liquors, often referred to as “local spirits” or “Htwe Nyo” in Rakhine. These are consumed reluctantly. Alongside this shift, a variety of colorful local alcoholic products have emerged as experimental beverages, such as cocktails mixed with local spirits and palm sap liquor. Ginger wine, Discovery wine, and Kam Thar Yar wine have flooded the market under various brand names.
Rice-based spirits are primarily made by fermenting rice with yeast and distilling to produce the liquid. The first distillate is called “A Oo Ye” (prime liquor), while the latter, weaker distillate is known as “A Pyaw Ye” (mild liquor). When mixed, it’s referred to as “A Sap Ye” (mixed liquor). As of now, in Rakhine, a liter of prime liquor costs 10,000 kyats, while mixed liquor costs 6,000 kyats per liter. However, the health risks associated with these unregulated products are severe. Without certifications or quality assurances from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these spirits pose significant health-risks, including life-threatening consequences.
When the alcohol ban was first implemented in Rakhine, many residents praised the move, hoping the AA would lead the production of internationally compliant alcohol or beer. However, as the saying goes, “hoping in vain, the awaited never arrives.”
Even though Arakan Army’s spokesperson, Khaing Thu Kha, claimed that the quality of liquors was checked by the FDA, producers said no such quality control had they encountered. According to a warning from the Arakkha Health Department in July 2025, locally produced spirits in Rakhine contain methanol levels ranging from 5% to 12%, a toxic substance that can be deadly. Doctors note that when a small amount of this liquor is rubbed on a finger and ignited, it burns with a sudden flare, a sign of high methanol content. Regular consumption of such spirits for just 90 days (approximately three months) can lead to liver cirrhosis, lung damage, abdominal swelling, and later stages of severe health decline, including weight loss, vomiting blood, and liver failure, according to warnings from AA’s health officials. Even worse, some producers mix methylated spirits into these liquors, which contain 95% ethanol and 5% methanol, making them extremely hazardous.
Alcohol consumers report that these local spirits often cause psychotic disorders, frequent blackouts, and memory loss. Despite these risks, consumption has not decreased; many remain trapped in addiction. Local residents and health officials confirm that deaths from liver cirrhosis linked to these local spirits are already occurring, though exact figures are difficult to access. Meanwhile, Myanmar’s junta operates over 25 alcohol and beer businesses, with markets both domestically and abroad. The ban on junta-produced alcohol in Rakhine has undoubtedly impacted a portion of their market.
When the alcohol ban was first implemented in Rakhine, many residents praised the move, hoping the AA would lead the production of internationally compliant alcohol or beer. However, as the saying goes, “hoping in vain, the awaited never arrives.” Questions arise about whether alcohol could be smuggled from neighboring Bangladesh or India. The answer is no—border checks are stringent, and violations are met with severe penalties. Additionally, foreign alcohol is prohibitively expensive in Myanmar currency, further limiting its accessibility.
Historically, during Mikhail Gorbachev’s era in Russia, vodka was banned in a country with a cold climate, where it was widely consumed. This led to widespread home-brewing, resulting in numerous deaths from unsafe alcohol. Similarly, in response to the 2021 military coup, Myanmar’s heartland saw boycotts of junta-produced beer and alcohol, though the effectiveness of those efforts remains unclear. In Rakhine today, beer has become little more than a fantasy. While banning junta and foreign alcohol products is commendable, Rakhine’s alcohol enthusiasts now face serious health risks and life-threatening dangers from unregulated local spirits.
Critics argue that local authorities must reassess their approach. There is growing demand for the AA or private companies to produce safe, certified alcohol or beer to replace the banned products. For Rakhine residents accustomed to decades of familiar junta or foreign brands, the shift to hazardous, unregulated spirits feels like a heartbreak, inviting disease with no viable alternative. Regardless, one thing is clear: the AA-controlled territories are now a place where beer can be found nowhere. So, dear friends, if you visit Arakan, please accept our humble hospitality with available beloved moonshine.
Maung Maung is a freelance writer based in Rakhine State.
The views and opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of ISP-Myanmar.