Distillers Alcohol regulations in Bermuda
Licensing, import, labelling and tax rules for spirits. Researched October 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in October 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 Spotted something out of date?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
- 18
- Legal purchase age
- 18
Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Distillery Licence (Small-scale or Commercial) under the Distilleries Licensing Act 2023, plus Department of Health Sanitary Certificate and Department of Planning approval.
- Authority
- Liquor Licensing Authority (LLA)
- Documents
- Proof of distillation experience/qualifications, premises layout and planning permission, environmental and waste disposal management plan, sanitary certificate from Department of Health, and police background clearances.
- Fees
- Small-scale Distillery Licence: $1,250 (initial and renewal); Commercial Distillery Licence: $8,000 initial, $4,000 annual renewal.
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Licensed commercial importers/wholesalers, retailers holding appropriate liquor licences, or individuals clearing goods for personal use.
- Licences or registrations
- Customs Automated Processing System (CAPS) Trader ID; commercial importers must hold an appropriate liquor licence (such as Class A) under the Liquor Licence Act 1974.
- Authority
- HM Customs Bermuda
- Documents
- Customs BCD declaration, commercial invoice, bill of lading / airway bill, packing list, certificate of origin.
- Fees
- Standard customs processing fees and wharfage surcharge (1.25% of customs value).
- Time to obtain
- 1 to 3 business days for customs clearance upon vessel arrival and declaration submission.
Product and label registration
- Required
- no
- Process
- No separate state brand or label registration requirement; products meeting general international standard labelling and customs documentation can be imported directly without pre-market registration.
- Authority
- not applicable
- Documents and samples
- not applicable
- Fees
- not applicable
- Renewal
- not applicable
- Time to obtain
- not applicable
Import rules
No state import monopoly; commercial trade is handled entirely by private distributors. Commercial shipments require entry via HM Customs CAPS system, commercial documentation, and payment of duties and 1.2.5% wharfage surcharge. Physical tax stamps or strip stamps are not required.
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
Specific customs tariff rate under HS Heading 2208 is $26.57 per litre of pure alcohol for commercial imports (or $10.63–$12.89 per bulk litre for passenger baggage and postal importations) plus 1.25% wharfage.
Excise and taxes
No separate domestic excise duty, VAT, or general sales tax; Bermuda collects all alcohol revenue at the port of entry via customs import duty and wharfage.
Retail and distribution
Private licensed businesses. Class A licences cover off-premise sales (liquor stores, supermarkets; typically permitted Monday to Saturday 8:00 am to midnight, restricted on Sundays); Class B, restaurant, hotel, and nightclub licences govern on-premise service (bars may serve from noon to 3:00 am).
Online sale and delivery
allowed; licensed Class A retailers and distributors may sell online and deliver to private premises, provided the recipient is verified to be 18 years of age or older.
Labelling
Accepts standard US/UK/EU export labels; must be in English with brand name, class/type of spirit, alcoholic strength (% ABV), net volume in metric units, country of origin, and name and address of producer/bottler. Bermuda does not mandate domestic warning labels or tax stamps.
Advertising
Permitted subject to general consumer protection laws and Liquor Licence Authority regulations; advertising cannot target minors under 18, promote excessive drinking, or be associated with youth-focused media or events.
Legal definitions of spirits
Bermuda does not maintain standalone domestic standards of identity; it accepts standard international definitions (US/UK/EU standards; typically 40% minimum ABV for rum, whisky, gin, and vodka).
Dry or restricted areas
None; alcohol sales and consumption are legal across all parishes in Bermuda.
Recent changes
- Full implementation of the Distilleries Licensing Act 2023, establishing the island's first dedicated regulatory and licensing framework for craft and commercial distilling.
- Expansion of the centralized digital Liquor Licensing Authority (LLA) online portal for annual and special liquor licences.
Opportunities for exporters
With virtually all spirits consumed on the island imported from abroad, Bermuda represents a lucrative, high-value market for premium and super-premium spirits catering to resident hospitality and high-end tourism sectors.
Regulators
Sources
Selling into Bermuda or buying from it?