Distillers Alcohol regulations in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, 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 Spotted something out of date?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
- Not confirmed
- Legal purchase age
- 18 years (under the Vergunningwet BES; specific retail enforcement details not confirmed)
Free guide: the import licence, import duty and manufacturing licence sections are open to all. Sign in free to read the other 11 sections for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba in full.
Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Vergunning accijnsgoederenplaats (AGP - excise warehouse licence) for manufacturing or storing excisable alcohol under duty suspension, plus local business/establishment permits.
- Authority
- Douane Caribisch Nederland (Team Klantbehandeling)
- Documents
- AGP application form, annex specifying the number and capacity of distilling apparatuses (for spirits) or brewing kettles (for beer), site plan/drawings, cadastral details, estimated monthly and annual production/storage volumes, list of employees authorized to sign excise documents, and a description of the accounting and administrative organization.
- Fees
- not confirmed
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Locally established businesses registered with the Chamber of Commerce and registered with Douane Caribisch Nederland; private individuals may import personal quantities subject to customs declaration and applicable ABB/excise.
- Licences or registrations
- One-time registration with Douane Caribisch Nederland (Team Klantbehandeling) to use the Electronic Customs Declaration Point (Elektronisch Aangiftepunt Douane - EAPD); optional Vergunning accijnsgoederenplaats (AGP) to import and store spirits on Bonaire under excise duty suspension.
- Authority
- Belastingdienst / Douane Caribisch Nederland
- Documents
- Electronic customs declaration via EAPD or written Single Administrative Document (formulier Enig document) with commercial invoice, freight, and insurance documents.
- Fees
- Registration and use of EAPD is free of charge (0 USD); AGP licence fee not confirmed.
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Product and label registration
Required: no Process: No mandatory pre-market alcohol brand or label registration (such as US COLA) is required by Douane Caribisch Nederland.
Import rules
There is no state import monopoly. Every import shipment requires an electronic customs declaration (via EAPD) or approved written declaration (Enig document). Under the Douane- en Accijnswet BES, shipments moving between…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
0% (nihil). Under the Douane- en Accijnswet BES, the customs import duty (invoerrecht) tariff is set at 0% for all goods across Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.
Excise and taxes
Official currency is the US Dollar (USD). Taxes differ by island under the Douane- en Accijnswet BES and Belastingwet BES: 1. Excise duty (Accijns) on distilled spirits (gedistilleerd, including wine >20% ABV): - Bonaire: USD…
Retail and distribution
Private sector system (supermarkets, liquor stores/slijterijen, wholesalers, hotels, bars, and restaurants) licensed by the respective island government under the Vergunningwet BES. Specific opening hours and day restrictions are…
Online sale and delivery
not confirmed
Labelling
No excise strip stamps are required on distilled spirits. Specific mandatory label items and health warning rules for the BES islands are not confirmed.
Advertising
not confirmed
Legal definitions of spirits
Under the Douane- en Accijnswet BES, wine with an alcoholic strength exceeding 20% ABV is classified and taxed as distilled spirits (gedistilleerd). Specific category definitions for whisky, rum, vodka, gin, or brandy are not…
Dry or restricted areas
None confirmed.
Recent changes
No major changes to the alcohol excise structure or the 0% customs duty tariff were confirmed for 2024–2026; Bonaire continues to levy ABB at 8% plus alcohol excise, while Sint Eustatius and Saba levy ABB at 6% with no excise on…
Opportunities for exporters
Exporters benefit from a 0% customs import duty across all three BES islands, no alcohol excise duty on Sint Eustatius and Saba, and no mandatory brand or strip-stamp registration for spirits. Bonaire's growing tourism and…
Read the full guide for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, free
Product and label registration, excise, labelling, advertising, distribution and recent changes, with every source, plus an Excel file of every country. Sign in with your email: no password, no fee.
Sign in to read the full guideSelling into Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba or buying from it?