Distillers Alcohol regulations in Lithuania
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Lithuania, 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 Spotted something out of date?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
- Legal drinking age
- 20
- Legal purchase age
- 20
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Licence to manufacture alcohol products (Alkoholio produktų gamybos licencija) and VMVT Food Business Operator Approval Certificate
- Authority
- Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department (NTAKD) and State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT)
- Documents
- Application, enterprise registration data, premises ownership or lease contract with real estate cadastral survey file, technological equipment descriptions, quality management/HACCP documentation, and VMVT food hygiene approval
- Fees
- State fee depends on production scope and beverage category (statutory state fee payable to VMI)
- Time to obtain
- Within 30 calendar days from submission of complete documents
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Enterprises established in Lithuania or branches of EU/foreign legal entities registered in Lithuania holding the required import/wholesale licence
- Licences or registrations
- Licence to import alcoholic beverages / Wholesale trade licence (issued by NTAKD), VMVT food business registration, and registration with the State Tax Inspectorate (VMI) as an excise warehousekeeper or registered consignee
- Authority
- Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department (NTAKD), State Tax Inspectorate (VMI), and Lithuanian Customs (Muitinė)
- Documents
- Application, enterprise registration documents, warehouse cadastral plans/measurements, proof of premises rights, VMVT approval certificate, and tax clearance records
- Fees
- State fee of approximately EUR 753 for wholesale/import licensing
- Time to obtain
- Within 30 calendar days from the date of submission of all required documents
Product and label registration
Required: no Process: There is no pre-market brand or label registration system (such as US COLA). Importers/producers must ensure full self-compliance with EU spirit drink regulations (Regulation (EU) 2019/787 and Regulation…
Import rules
Imports from outside the EU require standard customs clearance through Lithuanian Customs, an EORI number, and single administrative document (SAD). Spirits must be marked with Lithuanian excise duty stamps (banderoles) issued by…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
Spirits (HS 2208) entering from third countries are subject to the EU Common Customs Tariff (TARIC). Most major spirit categories (whisky, vodka, rum, gin) enter at 0% (duty-free), while certain undenatured ethyl alcohol lines carry specific rates (e.g., up to EUR 1.00/hl per % vol + EUR 6.40/hl).
Excise and taxes
Excise duty on ethyl alcohol is EUR 3,130 per hectolitre of pure alcohol (effective 2026). Standard Value Added Tax (VAT) is 21%.
Retail and distribution
Private retail stores, supermarkets, and licensed specialized shops may sell off-premises; licensed bars, restaurants, and catering establishments sell on-premises. Off-premises retail sales hours are strictly limited to…
Online sale and delivery
Restricted. Distance and online retail sales of alcohol are permitted only through licensed retailers/delivery platforms. Delivery and physical handover are restricted strictly to legal retail trade hours (Monday–Saturday…
Labelling
Must comply with EU Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 and Regulation (EU) 2019/787. Mandatory particulars must be in Lithuanian: legal sales denomination, actual alcoholic strength by volume (% vol), nominal volume, lot…
Advertising
Comprehensive statutory ban on alcohol advertising under the Law on Alcohol Control across television, radio, print, outdoor billboards, and digital/social media. Narrow exceptions (broadened in 2024) permit only factual product…
Legal definitions of spirits
Directly governed by EU Regulation (EU) 2019/787: minimum ABV is 40% for whisky/whiskey; 37.5% for vodka, rum, and gin; 36% for brandy/weinbrand; and neutral ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin must be distilled to a minimum of…
Dry or restricted areas
Retail sale of alcohol is prohibited at petrol stations, vending machines, public beaches, health and educational establishments, sports events/facilities, and within perimeter buffer zones established by municipal councils…
Recent changes
Excise duty rate on ethyl alcohol increased to EUR 3,130 per hectolitre of pure ethyl alcohol in 2026 under the multi-year tax escalation schedule. In May 2024, the Seimas amended the Law on Alcohol Control to legalize corporate…
Opportunities for exporters
Foreign distillers can tap into steady demand for premium spirits including whiskies, craft gins, and aged rums among urban consumers. However, market success requires partnering with licensed local importers and navigating high…
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- Republic of Lithuania Ministry of Finance / State Tax Inspectorate: Excise Duty Rates
- Republic of Lithuania Law on Alcohol Control (Alkoholio kontrolės įstatymas)
- Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department (NTAKD): Licensing and Regulations
- Customs of the Republic of Lithuania: Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Tariffs
- Nordic Alcohol Studies / Baltic Times: Lithuania Alcohol Control Amendments
Selling into Lithuania or buying from it?