Alcohol regulations in Antigua and Barbuda

Licences needed

Distiller's licence / manufacturing licence under the Licensing (Intoxicating Liquor) Act and standard trade licence under the Trade Licences Act (Cap. 434)

Authority

Licensing Magistrate (Magistrates' Court) / Comptroller of Customs / Ministry of Legal Affairs

Documents

Formal application to Licensing Magistrate, notice of intention, proof of legal entity registration, certified premises/still plans, environmental and public health clearances

Fees

Prescribed statutory licensing fee per quarter/annum under Cap. 249 Schedule

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Who can import

Registered commercial businesses possessing a valid Importer's Licence and customs registration

Licences or registrations

Importer's Licence under the Licensing (Intoxicating Liquor) Act, ASYCUDA World trader registration with Customs, and import authorization from the Trade Division where applicable

Authority

Customs and Excise Division; Licensing Magistrate; Trade Division (Ministry of Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Commerce)

Documents

Business registration, application form, Commercial Invoice, Bill of Lading, Single Administrative Document (SAD) customs entry

Fees

Statutory licence fee under Cap. 249 payable to Comptroller of Customs; no fee for standard trade import licence application

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Required

no

Process

No mandatory COLA-style prior product or label registration exists; compliance with national and regional CARICOM labelling technical regulations is verified by the Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards (ABBS) and Customs upon port inspection

Authority

Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards (ABBS)

Documents and samples

Product packaging/label specimens, certificate of analysis or manufacturer certificate of conformity on request

Fees

None for standard clearance; inspection/testing fees apply if targeted for laboratory verification

Renewal

None

Time to obtain

None / concurrent with customs clearance

All consignments must be entered electronically in ASYCUDA World by a licensed customs broker or authorized importer of record using the Single Administrative Document (SAD); requires commercial invoice, bill of lading/airway bill, and packing list; CARICOM Certificate of Origin is required to claim duty-free preferential tariff treatment; no fiscal excise tax stamps/strip stamps are required.

20% to 40% ad valorem on CIF value under the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET) (typically 40% for most spirits under HS 2208 from non-CARICOM countries; 0% for qualifying CARICOM-origin goods)

Antigua and Barbuda does not impose a standalone domestic excise tax. Border and consumption charges comprise: Customs Duty (up to 40%), Revenue Recovery Charge (RRC) at 10% of CIF value, Customs Service Charge (CSC) of 6% to 10%, Environmental Levy (~1.5%), and Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST) at 17% (raised from 15% in 2024) assessed on cumulative landed cost.

Private sector retail sales are permitted under licences granted by the Licensing Magistrate and issued by the Comptroller of Customs (retail licence, bottle licence, hotel licence, tavern licence, club licence). Supermarkets, liquor shops, hotels, and bars may sell alcohol subject to permitted statutory opening hours and age verification.

restricted

Must comply with the Standards (Technical Regulations) (Labelling of Pre-Packaged Foods) Regulations 2019 and CARICOM standards (CRS 5): product name/brand, net quantity (metric units), percentage alcohol by volume (% alc./vol. or % ABV on the principal display panel), name and identifiable address of manufacturer/packer or distributor/importer, country of origin, and batch/lot identifier; health warnings are not statutorily mandatory under general ABBS rules; language must be English; no excise tax stamps required.

Permitted across broadcast, digital, print, and outdoor channels; must comply with general consumer protection standards, fair trade legislation, and voluntary industry codes (such as WIRSPA guidelines) prohibiting marketing to minors or depicting hazardous consumption.

Antigua and Barbuda applies CARICOM Regional Standards (including CRS 25 for Rum: spirit obtained by alcoholic fermentation and distillation of sugar cane products distilled below 96% ABV, minimum bottling strength of 40% ABV, and age claims defined strictly by the youngest rum component in the blend). Standard international spirits definitions (whisky, gin, vodka, brandy) conform to Codex Alimentarius and CARICOM specifications.

None

• The standard rate of the Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST) was increased from 15% to 17% under fiscal reform legislation, increasing the cumulative tax burden on imported distilled spirits.
• Customs operations reinforced compliance through complete digital submission under ASYCUDA World for commercial imports of alcoholic beverages.

A thriving upscale tourism, yachting, and hospitality sector drives strong demand for premium whiskies, gins, and rums. Exporters benefit from a clear regulatory environment with no standalone domestic excise tax layer or pre-market label registration requirements.

• Antigua and Barbuda Customs and Excise Division
• Inland Revenue Department (IRD)
• Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards (ABBS)
• Ministry of Legal Affairs (Magistrates' Courts)

1. Licensing (Intoxicating Liquor) Act (Cap. 249) and Amendment Act 2015
2. Standards (Technical Regulations) (Labelling of Pre-Packaged Foods) Regulations 2019
3. Antigua and Barbuda Customs and Excise Division - Duties and Taxes Overview
4. West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers' Association (WIRSPA) - Regional Rum Standards