Distillers Alcohol regulations in Austria
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Austria, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched October 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in October 2026 from the public sources listed at the bottom of this page. Duty rates, fees and rules change often: confirm with the regulator, a customs broker or local counsel before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
- Status
- Legal
- Legal drinking age
- 16 for fermented beverages (beer, wine); 18 for distilled spirits and beverages containing distilled alcohol (harmonized across all 9 federal states under provincial Jugendschutzgesetze)
- Legal purchase age
- 16 for fermented beverages (beer, wine); 18 for distilled spirits and beverages containing distilled alcohol
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Trade registration for food/spirit manufacturing (freies Gewerbe: Erzeugung von Lebensmitteln) and Tax Warehouse Authorization (Steuerlagerinhaber / Brennereibewilligung)
- Authority
- District administrative authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft or Magistrat) for trade registration; Customs Authority Austria (Zollamt Österreich) for excise distillery approval
- Documents
- Commercial register excerpt (Firmenbuchauszug), identity documents, clean criminal record certificate, technical distillery layout and equipment specifications, metering/seal plans, proof of operational reliability, and excise tax guarantee
- Fees
- Trade registration is free or subject to nominal administrative charges (~€50–€150), often fee-exempt under NeuFöG for new businesses; customs authorization requires posting a financial security bond proportional to tax liability
- Time to obtain
- Trade registration is immediate upon complete notification; customs tax warehouse authorization typically takes 1 to 3 months
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Any registered commercial business entity with a valid EU Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number; imports under duty suspension require Registered Consignee (Registrierter Empfänger) or Authorized Warehousekeeper status
- Licences or registrations
- EORI number; EMCS (Excise Movement and Control System / SEED) registration for duty-suspended shipments; electronic customs system (e-zoll) access
- Authority
- Customs Authority Austria (Zollamt Österreich)
- Documents
- Single Administrative Document (SAD / e-zoll declaration), commercial invoice, transport documents (bill of lading / CMR), Certificate of Origin, packing list, and electronic administrative document (e-AD / ARC) if moving under EMCS
- Fees
- EORI registration is free; customs declaration processing charges depend on the customs broker/agent; excise security bond required for duty suspension
- Time to obtain
- EORI issuance takes 1 to 5 business days; customs clearance typically clears within hours to 2 business days upon arrival
Product and label registration
Required: no Process: No pre-market brand or label registration, product notification, or lab pre-approval exists for distilled spirits in Austria or the EU (unlike US COLA); operators self-certify compliance with EU and Austrian…
Import rules
Importer of record established in the EU with a valid EORI number is mandatory; no state import monopoly exists (open commercial market); each shipment requires an electronic customs declaration (SAD) and EMCS entry for duty…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
0% (duty-free) for most commercial distilled spirits under HS heading 2208 (e.g., whisky, vodka, rum, gin, brandy) originating from WTO member states under the GATT zero-for-zero spirits agreement; small specific duties apply to a few select tariff lines such as certain neutral agricultural ethyl alcohol
Excise and taxes
Alkoholsteuer (excise duty) is €1,200 per 100 liters of pure alcohol (€12.00 per liter of 100% vol pure alcohol), with statutory small-distillery reductions of 54% (€648/hl of pure alcohol) up to 400 liters; standard Value Added…
Retail and distribution
Private retail system with no state retail monopoly; spirits are sold across grocery supermarkets, specialist wine and liquor shops, department stores, and licensed gastronomy venues (bars, clubs, restaurants); shop operating…
Online sale and delivery
Allowed; e-commerce and direct delivery of spirits are fully legal provided strict age verification (minimum 18 years) is conducted at purchase and physical delivery (couriers must inspect photo ID); cross-border B2C distance…
Labelling
Compliant with EU Regulation 2019/787 and EU Regulation 1169/2011: legal sales denomination, nominal volume (ml/cl/l), alcohol by volume (% vol), name/address of EU producer or importer, lot/batch number ('L'), allergen…
Advertising
Permitted with legal restrictions under the Audiovisual Media Services Act (AMD-G), ORF Act, Act Against Unfair Competition (UWG), and the self-regulatory Austrian Advertising Council (Österreichischer Werberat) code:…
Legal definitions of spirits
Directly governed by Regulation (EU) 2019/787: minimum ABV is 40% for Whisky/Whiskey; 37.5% for Vodka, Gin, and Rum; 36% for Brandy/Weinbrand; 35% for fruit spirits (Obstbrand/Obstler); 37.5% for London Gin; 96% for agricultural…
Dry or restricted areas
No dry municipalities or prohibition territories exist nationwide; specific local public space alcohol consumption bans (Alkoholverbote) are enacted at municipal discretion in designated transit or high-density plazas (e.g.,…
Recent changes
Adoption of BGBl. I Nr. 62/2026 enacting a statutory increase of the base alcohol excise duty (Alkoholsteuer) from €1,200 to €1,560 per 100 liters of pure alcohol, taking effect on January 1, 2027. Full implementation and…
Opportunities for exporters
Austria is an affluent, open market with strong consumer interest in premium craft spirits, single-cask whiskies, high-end rums, and artisanal agave spirits. Exporters benefit from a tariff-free regime under HS 2208, zero…
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- Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes (RIS) - Alkoholsteuergesetz 2022 (AlkStG 2022)
- Unternehmensservice Portal (USP) - Alkoholsteuer
- Bundeskanzleramt Österreich - Jugendschutz in Österreich
- EUR-Lex - Verordnung (EU) 2019/787 über Spirituosen
- Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) - Austria Alcohol Beverage Import Requirements
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