Distillers Alcohol regulations in Guam
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Guam, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched May 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in May 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 Spotted something out of date?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
- 21
- Legal purchase age
- 21
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 Guam in full.
Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Guam ABC Class 1 Manufacturer's License, Guam General Business License, and Federal TTB Basic Permit (Distilled Spirits Plant)
- Authority
- Guam Alcoholic Beverage Control Board / Department of Revenue and Taxation (DRT), and U.S. TTB
- Documents
- ABC license application, police and court clearances, DRT tax clearance, corporate formation documents, premise lease or deed, site plans, zoning and sanitary clearances (DPW, GFD, DPHSS), and federal TTB DSP registration
- Fees
- $100.00 annual license fee for Class 1 Manufacturer; additional general business license fees apply
- Time to obtain
- 2 to 4 months (subject to multi-agency clearances and ABC Board public hearing schedule)
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Licensed wholesalers or manufacturer's agents holding a valid Guam ABC license and a federal TTB Importer's Basic Permit
- Licences or registrations
- Class 3 Wholesale Dealer License or Class 2 Agent License; TTB Federal Importer's Basic Permit; registration with Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA) and DRT
- Authority
- Guam Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (DRT), Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA), and U.S. TTB
- Documents
- Guam ABC application, corporate documents, criminal background check, premises/bonded warehouse lease, DRT tax clearance, and TTB Form 5100.24
- Fees
- Class 3 Wholesale Dealer: $1,000.00/year; Class 2 Agent: $250.00/year; TTB Federal Basic Permit: $0
- Time to obtain
- 1 to 3 months
Product and label registration
Required: yes Process: Spirits imported into Guam must obtain a Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) from the U.S. TTB via TTBOnline prior to customs clearance. At the local level, products must be registered and invoiced through…
Import rules
Guam is an unincorporated territory outside the customs territory of the United States and functions as a duty-free port. Commercial shipments must be cleared through the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA) and consigned to…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
0% (Guam is a duty-free port; no customs duty is levied under HS 2208, though local excise taxes and business privilege taxes apply upon entry or sale)
Excise and taxes
Guam Alcoholic Beverage Excise Tax (11 GCA § 26302) imposes $18.00 per gallon on all distilled spirits (prorated for fractional units, approximately $4.76 per liter). In addition, sales are subject to Guam's Business Privilege…
Retail and distribution
Private retail system (no state monopoly). Permitted outlets include Class 4 On-Sale licensees (bars, restaurants, hotels) and Class 5 Off-Sale licensees (liquor stores, supermarkets, grocery stores). Hours of sale: On-Sale…
Online sale and delivery
Restricted. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping of distilled spirits from off-island is prohibited. Local retail delivery is tightly regulated under Guam ABC provisions requiring direct delivery to licensed premises or strict…
Labelling
Labels must comply with federal TTB standards (27 CFR Part 5) and 11 GCA § 3424, including: brand name, class and type designation, alcohol content (% ABV), net contents (metric standard sizes between 50 mL and 1 gallon), country…
Advertising
Regulated under 11 GCA § 3401 and ABC rules. Prohibits false, deceptive, or misleading claims, and any marketing targeted at minors under 21. Wholesalers and manufacturers are prohibited from providing gifts, free goods,…
Legal definitions of spirits
Federal standards under 27 CFR Part 5 govern classifications and identity standards. Under 11 GCA § 3109, distilled spirits are defined as alcoholic beverages obtained by the distillation of fermented agricultural products…
Dry or restricted areas
There are no dry villages or municipal jurisdictions on Guam. However, specific alcohol-free zones exist where consumption and possession are illegal: public and private schools (11 GCA § 3421), correctional facilities (§ 3422),…
Recent changes
Legislative proposals (Bill 238-37) introduced to evaluate expanding on-sale cabaret and entertainment venue operating hours from 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM. Guam DRT and the Office of Public Accountability instituted tighter…
Opportunities for exporters
Guam's status as a duty-free port combined with a large military presence and tourism-driven hospitality sector offers strong demand for premium American whiskeys, tequila, Japanese spirits, and ready-to-drink spirits. Exporters…
Read the full guide for Guam, 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 guideSources
- Guam Code Annotated Title 11, Chapter 3 - Alcoholic Beverage Control
- Guam Code Annotated Title 11, Chapter 26, Article 3 - Alcoholic Beverage Tax (§ 26302)
- Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation - Regulatory Division
- Guam Office of Public Accountability - Audit Report No. 23-02 (Excise Taxes on Alcoholic Beverages)
- U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) - Requirements for Beverage Alcohol Importers
Selling into Guam or buying from it?