Regulations / Syrian Arab Republic

Alcohol regulations in Syrian Arab Republic

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 Spotted something out of date?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: Partial prohibition / dry areas exist
Legal drinking age: 18
Legal purchase age: 18

Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)

Licences needed: Industrial operating licence, environmental/sanitary approvals, SASMO conformity certification, and municipal commercial registration
Authority: Ministry of Industry, SASMO, Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection
Documents: Commercial register, facility blueprint, technical production process files, sanitary and laboratory compliance certificates
Fees: not confirmed
Time to obtain: not confirmed

Import licence and registration

Who can import: Commercial importation of alcoholic beverages is barred under the customs prohibited list
Licences or registrations: Commercial import permits are currently blocked / not issued for alcohol
Authority: General Authority for Land and Sea Ports and Customs, Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade
Documents: not confirmed
Fees: not confirmed
Time to obtain: not confirmed

Product and label registration

Required: yes
Process: Conformity verification with SASMO standards and registration with the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection prior to distribution
Authority: Syrian Arab Organization for Standardization and Metrology (SASMO), Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection
Documents and samples: Product specification sheet, chemical and purity laboratory test reports, sample labels
Fees: not confirmed
Renewal: not confirmed
Time to obtain: not confirmed

Import rules

Under Decree No. 109 of May 2026 (New Customs Law) and the subsequent tariff classifications issued by customs authorities, alcoholic beverages are classified on the 'negative list' (prohibited imports). Additionally, customs and border security strictly confiscate personal alcohol brought in or taken out by travellers at land borders and international airports.

Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)

Import prohibited (categorised under the customs negative list for HS 2208); commercial tariffs are not applicable due to the import ban.

Excise and taxes

Domestically manufactured beverages are subject to consumption tax (رسم إنفاق), advance tax (سلفة), and municipal surcharges; commercial imported spirits are prohibited.

Retail and distribution

Severely restricted. In Damascus, a March 2026 decree banned on-premise service of alcohol in bars, restaurants, and nightclubs (exempting select international hotels under Ministry of Tourism oversight). Off-premise retail is restricted to sealed bottles for takeaway exclusively in designated Christian-majority neighbourhoods (Bab Touma, Bab Sharqi, Al-Qassaa), with mandatory buffer distances of at least 75 metres from schools and places of worship and 20 metres from security facilities.

Online sale and delivery

banned

Labelling

Must comply with SASMO mandatory beverage standards: Arabic language, product identity, alcoholic strength (% ABV), manufacturer details, lot/batch number, net volume, and country of origin; non-compliant products are subject to confiscation.

Advertising

Banned across broadcast, print, and public outdoor media under public morality and media advertising regulations.

Legal definitions of spirits

SASMO maintains national standards for alcoholic beverages and spirits (notably traditional grape-and-aniseed Arak, traditionally distilled to 40%–53% ABV); specific statutory minimum ABV schedules for all imported categories are not confirmed.

Dry or restricted areas

Muslim-majority neighbourhoods and various conservative provinces enforce informal or de facto dry conditions. In Damascus, on-premise alcohol consumption is prohibited across all standard restaurants and bars, and retail sales are confined to specific Christian quarters.

Recent changes

December 2024: Following the fall of the Assad regime, the transitional government under Ahmad al-Sharaa took control, leading to tighter social restrictions and the suspension of liquor license renewals.
Late 2025: Customs officials began systematically confiscating personal alcohol from incoming and outgoing travellers at land crossings and Damascus International Airport.
March 2026: The Damascus Governorate issued an administrative decree banning the serving of alcohol in bars, restaurants, and nightclubs citywide (converting licences to cafes), and restricting alcohol retail to sealed takeaway bottles in three Christian neighbourhoods (Bab Touma, Bab Sharqi, Qassaa) situated at least 75 metres from places of worship and schools.
May–June 2026: Presidential Decree No. 109 introduced a new Customs Law, followed by tariff schedules from the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports and Customs officially placing alcoholic beverages on the 'negative list' of prohibited imports.

Opportunities for exporters

There are virtually no legal commercial opportunities for foreign spirits exporters at present, as alcoholic beverages have been placed on Syria's customs prohibited import list. The domestic market is severely contracting and restricted to existing local producers facing heavy administrative challenges.

Regulators

Sources

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