Alcohol regulations in Hong Kong

Licences needed

Distillery Licence (for distilling spirits) or Liquor Manufacturer's Licence, plus relevant environmental, fire services, and industrial premises permits

Authority

Customs and Excise Department (Licence Unit, Office of Dutiable Commodities Administration)

Documents

Business Registration Certificate, appointment of responsible person (HKID holder), premises floor plans/layout, still specifications, storage details, fire safety and environmental clearances

Fees

HK$22,700 annual licence fee (Distillery Licence or Liquor Manufacturer's Licence); HK$620 per amendment of licence particulars

Time to obtain

C&ED arranges inspection/interview within 3 working days of receipt; notification of assessment within 10 working days following inspection/interview (full facility operational approval depends on site readiness and statutory building/fire approvals)

Who can import

Any business registered in Hong Kong holding a valid Business Registration Certificate and an appointed responsible person who holds an Import and Export Licence for dutiable commodities

Licences or registrations

Import and Export Licence under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109) and a shipment-specific Removal Permit

Authority

Customs and Excise Department (Office of Dutiable Commodities Administration)

Documents

Application submitted via the Dutiable Commodities System (DCS), Business Registration Certificate, HKID of appointed responsible person, shipping documentation (bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list)

Fees

HK$1,320 annual fee for an Import and Export Licence

Time to obtain

Interview/inspection scheduled within 3 working days; decision rendered within 10 working days following interview

Required

no

Process

Hong Kong does not maintain a pre-market product registration or mandatory label approval process (such as US COLA) for distilled spirits. Importers and manufacturers are responsible for self-compliance with the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) and the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109). Voluntary trademark registration may be lodged with the Intellectual Property Department.

Authority

Not applicable

Spirits exceeding 30% ABV require an Import and Export Licence and a Removal Permit per consignment from the Customs and Excise Department. Brandy and whisky imports intended for local sale must be accompanied by an official Certificate of Origin and Age Certificate issued by the competent authority in the country of origin. Hong Kong operates no state import monopoly and requires no physical excise strip stamps. Importers must lodge import declarations within 14 days of arrival.

Customs tariffs per se are 0% (free port). Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (effective 16 October 2024), spirits with >30% ABV are subject to a two-tier ad valorem duty: 100% on the portion of import value up to HK$200 per bottle (or per litre equivalent), and 10% on the portion exceeding HK$200.

Excise duty on spirits (>30% ABV) is 100% on value up to HK$200 and 10% on the remaining value above HK$200. Alcoholic beverages with 30% ABV or below (wine, beer) carry 0% duty. Hong Kong has no VAT, GST, or general sales tax.

Private sector retail. Off-premise retail sale (supermarkets, specialty liquor stores, grocery stores) does not require a liquor licence, but sellers must comply with the statutory ban on sales to minors and display mandatory bilingual age notices. On-premise retail (bars, pubs, restaurants, clubs) requires a Liquor Licence issued by the Liquor Licensing Board (FEHD), which may set specific permitted operating/serving hours. There is no state retail monopoly.

Allowed. Regulated under Part 5 of the Dutiable Commodities (Liquor) Regulations (Cap. 109B). Online/remote sellers must clearly display the statutory bilingual notice prohibiting sale to minors, obtain an explicit age declaration confirming the buyer is 18 or older before completing the transaction, and ensure delivery personnel verify recipient age if in doubt. Alcohol sales via vending machines are prohibited.

Under Cap. 132W, beverages with ABV of 10% or more are exempt from nutrition labelling, ingredient lists, and date marking. However, the alcoholic strength (% ABV) must be declared under Cap. 109. If labels are provided in English or Chinese, they must not be misleading; if both languages are used for food names or ingredients, both must be accurate. Specific origin rules apply to Port and Sherry. Physical excise stamps or strip stamps are not required. Health warnings are currently voluntary under trade guidance.

Permitted with regulatory limitations. Broadcast media (TV and radio) are governed by the Communications Authority's Generic Codes of Practice on Advertising Standards: alcohol ads cannot be broadcast in or near children's programmes, cannot target persons under 18, cannot feature celebrities appealing to children, and must not promote excessive consumption, health benefits, or drink-driving. Print, outdoor, and internet ads must be targeted to adults aged 18+ under the Four As Code of Practice.

Defined under the Dutiable Commodities Regulations: Brandy must be distilled from grape wine without added sugar, aged in oak for at least 1 year (or in oak casks <1,000L for 6 months), and contain at least 36% ABV at 20°C (Cognac must originate from Cognac, France). Whisky must be distilled from a mash of cereal grains saccharified by malt diastase/natural enzymes, fermented by yeast, aged in wood for at least 3 years, and contain at least 40% ABV at 20°C.

None

• On 16 October 2024, the Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address an immediate reduction of the excise duty on spirits (>30% ABV) from a flat 100% to a two-tier system: 100% on the portion of import value up to HK$200, and 10% on the portion exceeding HK$200, enacted under the Public Revenue Protection (Duty on Liquor) Order 2024.
• During 2024–2026, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) intensified enforcement and compliance audits on e-commerce platforms and delivery couriers to strictly monitor remote age declarations and prescribed warning notices under Cap. 109B.

The tier-cut reducing spirit duties to 10% on import value exceeding HK$200 significantly lowers the tax burden on premium and luxury spirits. This establishes Hong Kong as a highly competitive regional hub for high-end whisky, cognac, and artisanal spirits trading and auctioning across Asia.

• Customs and Excise Department (C&ED)
• Liquor Licensing Board (LLB) / Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD)
• Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO), Department of Health
• Centre for Food Safety (CFS)

1. Customs and Excise Department - Dutiable Commodities
2. Hong Kong Government Press Release - Reduction of duty on liquor with alcoholic strength of more than 30 per cent (October 16, 2024)
3. Community Legal Information Centre (CLIC) - Regulation of Alcohol and Liquor Duty in Hong Kong
4. USDA FAS - Hong Kong Import Regulations on Wine and Spirits
5. Centre for Food Safety - Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W)