Alcohol regulations in Åland Islands

Licences needed

Alcoholic beverage production licence (Tillverkningstillstånd för alkoholdrycker) and approval of a tax warehouse from the Finnish Tax Administration (Verohallinto); plus food premises registration.

Authority

Finnish Supervisory Agency (LVV, formerly Valvira) and Finnish Tax Administration (Verohallinto)

Documents

Application via the Allu e-service, Business ID (FO-nummer), self-monitoring plan (egenkontrollplan) under the Alcohol Act and Food Act, proof of financial reliability and suitability, floor plans and descriptions of production and storage premises and equipment, and food premises notification.

Fees

Application decision fee set by Government Decree (not confirmed for standard non-organic production; organic registration decision fee is EUR 550 plus EUR 285 inspection fee). Annual supervision base fee is EUR 390 per licence holder (plus EUR 190 per additional site) and a volume surcharge of EUR 2.80 per 1,000 litres of 100% alcohol, capped at EUR 18,000.

Time to obtain

Average processing time is approximately 3 months (includes a preliminary premises inspection if needed).

Who can import

Holders of an alcohol wholesale licence (or production licence), the state retail monopoly Alko, or holders of a retail/serving licence who submit an import notification for their own retail/serving purposes.

Licences or registrations

Wholesale licence for alcoholic beverages (Partihandelstillstånd), or an Import Notification for retail sale purposes, plus registration as a commercial importer/registered consignee with the Finnish Tax Administration and Customs (Tulli) due to the Åland tax border.

Authority

Finnish Supervisory Agency (LVV), Finnish Customs (Tulli), and Finnish Tax Administration (Verohallinto)

Documents

Application via the Allu e-service, Business ID, self-monitoring plan, storage premises details, and financial suitability documentation.

Fees

Import notification processing fee for retail sale purposes is EUR 400. Wholesale licence decision fee is set by Government Decree; annual supervision fees apply based on sales volume.

Time to obtain

Approximately 3 months for a full wholesale licence; approximately 14 days for an import notification.

Required: yes Process: Before placing an alcoholic beverage on the market, manufacturers and importing wholesalers must register the product via a product notification to the Finnish Supervisory Agency's Alcohol Trade Register…

Åland is part of the EU Customs Union but is outside the EU VAT and excise territory (separated by a tax border). Consequently, all alcohol shipments into Åland from mainland Finland, other EU states, or non-EU countries require…

0% for most distilled spirits under HS 2208 (EU Common Customs Tariff applies; Most Favoured Nation duty is zero for whisky, vodka, gin, brandy, liqueurs, and most spirits, while certain rums and undenatured ethyl alcohol carry specific EUR/hl duties unless covered by a Free Trade Agreement). Zero customs duty on movements from mainland Finland or other EU Member States (though tax border customs clearance applies).

Finnish national excise duties and VAT apply on Åland: - Excise duty on ethyl alcohol / spirits (HS 2208) in 2026: Over 10% ABV is 56.28 cents per centilitre of pure ethyl alcohol (EUR 56.28 per litre of 100% alcohol, or ~EUR…

Off-premise retail sale of distilled spirits (>5.5% ABV) and fermented beverages (>8.0% ABV) is a state monopoly operated by Alko. Private grocery stores, kiosks, and service stations licensed by the State Department of Åland…

Allowed under a strict newly reformed framework (Law amending the Alcohol Act, effective 3 July 2026 in three stages): - Cross-border distance sales: Following Finland's Supreme Court ruling (KKO 2025:71) and the 2026 legislative…

EU food and spirit drink labelling rules (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 and Regulation (EU) 2019/787) and Finnish national decrees apply. Because Åland is monolingually Swedish by constitutional statute, mandatory consumer…

Governed by the Alcohol Act (1102/2017, applied on Åland via Provincial Act 2021:140) and supervised locally by the State Department of Åland (Statens ämbetsverk på Åland) and nationally by LVV. Advertising of strong alcoholic…

European Union Spirit Drinks Regulation (EU) 2019/787 applies directly. Key minimum ABV thresholds and definitions include: - Whisky / Whiskey: minimum 40% ABV, distilled from mash of malted cereals, matured for at least 3 years…

None (no dry municipalities exist on Åland, though alcohol deliveries and consumption are restricted in specific premises such as schools, healthcare facilities, and social care institutions).

June 2024: The maximum ABV permitted in regular grocery stores and supermarkets was raised from 5.5% to 8.0% for fermented alcoholic beverages (beers, ciders, and low-alcohol wines), while distilled/ethyl alcohol-based beverages…

Åland's special EU fiscal status makes its maritime ferry traffic between Finland and Sweden one of Europe's largest tax-free retail markets for distilled spirits. Additionally, the July 2026 Alcohol Act reform codifies a clear,…

1. Ålands landskapsregering – Alkohol (Tillstånd och lagstiftning)
2. Ålands miljö- och hälsoskyddsmyndighet (ÅMHM) – Alkohol och Serveringstillstånd
3. Statens ämbetsverk på Åland – Detaljhandelstillstånd för alkoholdrycker
4. Finnish Supervisory Agency (LVV) – Production and wholesale of alcoholic beverages
5. Finnish Tax Administration (Verohallinto) – Excise duty table for alcohol and alcoholic beverages 2026
6. Finnish Customs (Tulli) – The Åland tax border and declarations
7. Winepress.fi / Eduskunta – Finland Alcohol Act Reform (3 July 2026)