Alcohol regulations in France

Licences needed

Statut d'entrepositaire agréé (tax warehousekeeper status), autorisation préfectorale pour l'acquisition et l'exploitation d'alambic (still permit), and ICPE environmental declaration/authorization.

Authority

Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (DGDDI), Préfecture, and DREAL.

Documents

Company registration (Kbis), facility blueprints and security plans, production equipment declarations, detailed stock-accounting procedures (comptabilité matières), and financial surety guarantee (cautionnement fiscal).

Fees

No statutory licensing fee charged by customs; mandatory financial guarantee/bond is calculated based on expected excise tax liability.

Time to obtain

Typically 2 to 4 months.

Who can import

Any business registered in the EU with a valid EORI number. If importing under excise duty suspension, the business must also hold registered consignee (destinataire enregistré) or authorized warehousekeeper (entrepositaire agréé) status.

Licences or registrations

EORI number; excise registration in SEED for the EU Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS); customs import declaration access (DELTA IE).

Authority

Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (DGDDI).

Documents

Commercial invoice, Single Administrative Document (SAD / DELTA), packing list, transport documentation (bill of lading/air waybill), certificate of origin, and electronic Administrative Document (e-AD) if moved under excise suspension.

Fees

EORI and customs registration are free of charge; customs broker and handling fees apply.

Time to obtain

EORI is issued within 24 to 72 hours; excise status approvals require 1 to 3 months.

Required: no Process: France and the European Union operate on a self-compliance model for alcoholic beverages; there is no pre-market brand registration or label approval system (no COLA equivalent). The importer or producer is…

Spirits imported from non-EU countries require an EU-established Importer of Record holding an EORI number. There is no state import monopoly. Shipments are declared via the Single Administrative Document (SAD). When cleared for…

0% for most commercial distilled spirits under HS 2208 (whisky, vodka, gin, rum, tequila, liqueurs) entering from WTO members under the GATT 1994 zero-for-zero spirits agreement. Undenatured ethyl alcohol under 80% ABV (HS 2208.90.91 / 2208.90.99) is subject to specific EU duties of €0.80 per % vol/hl (+ €5.30/hl depending on container volume).

Spirits are subject to two specific national duties administered under the CIBS: 1) Specific excise duty (droit de consommation) at €1,932.42 per hectolitre of pure alcohol (hlap) in 2026 (was €1,899.18/hlap in 2025); 2) Social…

Private retail system without state monopolies. On-premise sales of distilled spirits require a 'Licence IV' (full on-licence) or a 'Licence Restaurant' (when served strictly with meals). Off-premise retail sale of spirits…

Allowed. E-commerce merchants based in France must hold a 'licence à emporter' and obtain a nighttime sales permit (PVBAN) if deliveries or sales occur between 22:00 and 08:00. Age verification (18+) is legally mandatory during…

Labels must comply with EU Regulation 2019/787 and EU Regulation 1169/2011, with mandatory information in French (Loi Toubon). Required items: legal sales denomination, alcoholic strength (% vol), net quantity, lot number…

Strictly restricted under the Loi Évin (Articles L3323-1 to L3323-6 of the Code de la santé publique). Alcohol advertising is prohibited on television, in cinemas, on sports jerseys, and in venues/media intended for minors.…

Defined under EU Regulation (EU) 2019/787: Whisky/whiskey minimum 40% ABV, grain-distilled, cask-matured ≥3 years, unflavored, no added alcohol or sweetening; Rum minimum 37.5% ABV, sugar cane-derived, sweetening max 20 g/L…

No completely dry towns or territories. However, French law establishes mandatory 'zones protégées' (buffer perimeters of 50m to 100m, determined by prefectural orders) around schools, hospitals, sports complexes, and nursing…

Excise duty and Social Security Contribution rates were adjusted upwards on January 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026 according to the national consumer price indexation rules under the Code des impositions sur les biens et services…

France offers a high-value, mature market with robust consumer demand for premium craft spirits, non-cognac brandies, agave spirits (tequila and mezcal), and single malt whiskies. Non-EU exporters benefit from zero percent MFN…

1. DGDDI - Alcools et boissons alcooliques : tarifs 2026
2. Circulaire DGDDI relative aux tarifs de l'accise sur les alcools et boissons alcooliques
3. Légifrance - Code de la santé publique : Débits de boissons et Loi Évin (Articles L3323-1 et L3331-1 et seq.)
4. Service-Public.fr - Licences d'un débit de boissons et restaurant
5. Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on the definition, description, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks
6. European Commission - TARIC Consultation (Heading 2208)