Distillers Alcohol regulations in Lebanon
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Lebanon, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched March 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in March 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 Spotted something out of date?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 / dry areas exist
- Legal drinking age
- 18
- Legal purchase age
- 18
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Industrial Establishment and Operating Permit (Class 1 or 2 industrial classification depending on scale), Environmental Clearance, Food Safety/Hygiene Approval
- Authority
- Ministry of Industry (Directorate General of Industry)
- Documents
- Title deed or commercial lease contract, cadastral registration certificate, architectural and machinery layout plans, industrial process flow description, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or clearance from Ministry of Environment, Commercial Register extract
- Fees
- not confirmed
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Commercially registered companies and entities in Lebanon with authorized import/trade activities registered with the Ministry of Economy and Trade and Lebanese Customs
- Licences or registrations
- Commercial Registration (Commercial Court Register), tax registration number, and customs importer registration via the ASYCUDA system
- Authority
- Lebanese Customs Administration (Higher Council of Customs) and Ministry of Economy and Trade
- Documents
- Commercial invoice, bill of lading / airway bill, packing list, certificate of origin, certificate of analysis/health certificate from country of origin, commercial register extract
- Fees
- Standard customs transaction and administrative fees
- Time to obtain
- A few days for customs processing upon document clearance
Product and label registration
Required: no Process: Lebanon does not enforce a formal prior brand or label pre-approval system (such as US TTB COLA). Compliance with mandatory national standards (LIBNOR) and labeling laws is verified at customs clearance via…
Import rules
Commercial imports must be cleared through a licensed Lebanese Importer of Record. Consignments require a Certificate of Origin, Certificate of Analysis, and standard shipping documentation. Border consignments may be referred to…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
Spirits (HS heading 2208) are subject to a base customs tariff of 5% ad valorem, plus an additional 3% customs fee on VAT-liable goods, with luxury or domestic-substitute surcharges of up to 10% applicable on designated classifications.
Excise and taxes
Specific excise duty on spirits/whiskey of 1,200 LBP per litre (under fiscal law and Budget Law provisions), plus standard Value-Added Tax (VAT) of 11% applied to the CIF customs value plus customs duties and excise.
Retail and distribution
Private retail distribution. Spirits are sold freely in supermarkets, specialized liquor stores, and grocery shops. On-premise sales (bars, pubs, clubs, hotels, restaurants) operate under commercial and tourism hospitality…
Online sale and delivery
allowed
Labelling
Labels must indicate product name/type, brand name, alcoholic strength by volume (% ABV), net volume (metric units), country of origin, manufacturer/bottler name and address, lot/batch number, and allergen disclosures. Mandatory…
Advertising
Permitted with specific restrictions. Alcohol advertising is legal across print, billboards, digital, and broadcast media under Decree No. 8861/1996 and Law No. 382/1994, governed by the Consumer Protection Law. Ads must not…
Legal definitions of spirits
LIBNOR defines mandatory standards (NL standards) for alcoholic beverages. Arak must be produced from distilled grape alcohol and aniseed (typically minimum 50% ABV or strictly 45%-53% ABV). Distilled spirits such as whisky,…
Dry or restricted areas
Certain predominantly Muslim or conservative municipalities and districts (such as Tripoli, Sidon/Saida, Nabatieh, and parts of the southern suburbs of Beirut) enact municipal bans or do not issue permits for retail alcohol sales…
Recent changes
Article 43 of the 2024 Budget Law introduced domestic alcohol excise duties to narrow the fiscal disparity with imported alcoholic beverages, maintained through 2025 and 2026. Extension of temporary additional customs duty…
Opportunities for exporters
Lebanon has a strong dining and nightlife culture with robust consumer demand for premium imported spirits, notably Scotch whisky, vodka, gin, and tequila. Exporters should focus on working with established local distribution…
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