Alcohol regulations in Antigua and Barbuda

Licences needed

Distiller's licence / manufacturing licence under the Licensing (Intoxicating Liquor) Act and standard trade licence under the Trade Licences Act (Cap. 434)

Authority

Licensing Magistrate (Magistrates' Court) / Comptroller of Customs / Ministry of Legal Affairs

Documents

Formal application to Licensing Magistrate, notice of intention, proof of legal entity registration, certified premises/still plans, environmental and public health clearances

Fees

Prescribed statutory licensing fee per quarter/annum under Cap. 249 Schedule

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Who can import

Registered commercial businesses possessing a valid Importer's Licence and customs registration

Licences or registrations

Importer's Licence under the Licensing (Intoxicating Liquor) Act, ASYCUDA World trader registration with Customs, and import authorization from the Trade Division where applicable

Authority

Customs and Excise Division; Licensing Magistrate; Trade Division (Ministry of Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Commerce)

Documents

Business registration, application form, Commercial Invoice, Bill of Lading, Single Administrative Document (SAD) customs entry

Fees

Statutory licence fee under Cap. 249 payable to Comptroller of Customs; no fee for standard trade import licence application

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Required: no Process: No mandatory COLA-style prior product or label registration exists; compliance with national and regional CARICOM labelling technical regulations is verified by the Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards…

All consignments must be entered electronically in ASYCUDA World by a licensed customs broker or authorized importer of record using the Single Administrative Document (SAD); requires commercial invoice, bill of lading/airway…

20% to 40% ad valorem on CIF value under the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET) (typically 40% for most spirits under HS 2208 from non-CARICOM countries; 0% for qualifying CARICOM-origin goods)

Antigua and Barbuda does not impose a standalone domestic excise tax. Border and consumption charges comprise: Customs Duty (up to 40%), Revenue Recovery Charge (RRC) at 10% of CIF value, Customs Service Charge (CSC) of 6% to…

Private sector retail sales are permitted under licences granted by the Licensing Magistrate and issued by the Comptroller of Customs (retail licence, bottle licence, hotel licence, tavern licence, club licence). Supermarkets,…

restricted

Must comply with the Standards (Technical Regulations) (Labelling of Pre-Packaged Foods) Regulations 2019 and CARICOM standards (CRS 5): product name/brand, net quantity (metric units), percentage alcohol by volume (% alc./vol.…

Permitted across broadcast, digital, print, and outdoor channels; must comply with general consumer protection standards, fair trade legislation, and voluntary industry codes (such as WIRSPA guidelines) prohibiting marketing to…

Antigua and Barbuda applies CARICOM Regional Standards (including CRS 25 for Rum: spirit obtained by alcoholic fermentation and distillation of sugar cane products distilled below 96% ABV, minimum bottling strength of 40% ABV,…

None

The standard rate of the Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST) was increased from 15% to 17% under fiscal reform legislation, increasing the cumulative tax burden on imported distilled spirits. Customs operations reinforced…

A thriving upscale tourism, yachting, and hospitality sector drives strong demand for premium whiskies, gins, and rums. Exporters benefit from a clear regulatory environment with no standalone domestic excise tax layer or…

1. Licensing (Intoxicating Liquor) Act (Cap. 249) and Amendment Act 2015
2. Standards (Technical Regulations) (Labelling of Pre-Packaged Foods) Regulations 2019
3. Antigua and Barbuda Customs and Excise Division - Duties and Taxes Overview
4. West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers' Association (WIRSPA) - Regional Rum Standards