Alcohol regulations in Tasmania

Licences needed

ATO Manufacturer Licence & Still Approval (Excise Act 1901); Tasmanian Liquor Licence (Off-licence, General, or Special licence) or Small Producer's Permit (Liquor Licensing Act 1990); Local council planning approval.

Authority

Australian Taxation Office (Federal) and Commissioner for Licensing / Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission (State)

Documents

ATO: Site plan, security documentation, equipment specifications, production process, commercial viability details. Tasmania Liquor: Licence application form, associate background declaration, National Police certificate, Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certification, planning/occupancy certificates, floor plans, and public notices.

Fees

ATO licence: $0. Tasmanian state fees (2026–27): Off-licence application fee $1,568.00, grant fee $392.00, annual renewal fee $774.20; Special licence application fee $784.00, grant fee $392.00, annual fee $509.60; Small Producer's Permit application fee $166.60.

Time to obtain

ATO excise licence: approximately 60 days. Tasmanian liquor licence: typically 4 to 6 weeks, subject to Tasmanian Licensing Board determination.

Who can import

Any commercial entity registered in Australia holding an Australian Business Number (ABN); imports must be cleared through Australian Border Force (ABF).

Licences or registrations

No dedicated federal import licence is required; however, holding untaxed spirits requires an ATO Customs Warehouse licence (underbond movement permission). Wholesale distribution or off-premise sales in Tasmania require a valid Tasmanian liquor licence.

Authority

Australian Border Force (ABF) and Australian Taxation Office (ATO) federally; Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission state-wide.

Documents

Customs Full Import Declaration (FID), commercial invoice, bill of lading / airway bill, packing list, certificate of origin (for FTA preferential duty treatment), and age certificate (for matured spirits).

Fees

ABF Full Import Declaration charge ($45 to $66 depending on electronic/air/sea mode) plus biosecurity inspection fees.

Time to obtain

Electronic customs declarations clear within hours to days upon cargo arrival.

Required: no Process: Australia does not maintain a pre-market brand or label registration system (such as US TTB COLA). Importers and manufacturers must self-comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code prior to…

Importer of record must be an Australian-registered legal entity. There is no state monopoly for spirits importation. Shipments enter via standard ABF clearance. No excise stamps or physical strip stamps are used or required.…

Standard customs tariff rate is 5% ad valorem on Customs Value (FOB basis) under HS Chapter 2208, though it is 0% under various Free Trade Agreements (e.g. AUKFTA, AUSFTA, ANZCERTA). Imported spirits are also subject to customs duty equivalent to the domestic excise rate ($110.15 per litre of pure alcohol as of August 2026).

Distilled spirits excise is $110.15 per litre of pure alcohol (LAL) as of 3 August 2026 (brandy is $102.87/LAL), indexed biannually in February and August based on CPI. Eligible domestic producers receive a 100% excise remission…

Private retail distribution system. Spirits are retailed through licensed private bottle shops (off-licences), hotels/pubs (general licences), and distilleries/cellar doors (special licences). Standard trading hours under the Act…

Allowed under Section 46D of the Liquor Licensing Act 1990. Online sellers must prominently display their liquor licence number and the statutory underage drinking warning notice on websites and advertising. Purchasers must…

Regulated federally under FSANZ Food Standards Code (Standard 1.2 and 2.7): product name/identity, statement of alcohol content (% ABV), number of standard drinks (calculated based on 10 grams pure alcohol), name and…

Primarily regulated nationally under the quasi-regulatory Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC) scheme and Australian Consumer Law. Under Tasmania's Liquor Licensing Act 1990, advertising or promotions that encourage rapid or…

Defined under Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code Standard 2.7.5: General spirits must contain at least 37% ABV (with a specific 35% ABV exception for Tequila GI). Whisky must be distilled from cereal mash and aged in…

No municipality-wide dry communities exist in Tasmania. However, local councils (e.g., Hobart, Launceston) enact local by-laws establishing alcohol-free public zones in specified streets, reserves, and parks where open…

Distilled spirits excise duty was indexed biannually, rising to $107.99/LAL in February 2026 and $110.15/LAL on 3 August 2026. The federal Alcohol Manufacturers' Remission (AMR) cap for eligible domestic distillers was increased…

Tasmania has a high per-capita demand for premium, artisanal spirits driven by its thriving local craft and tourism sectors, but foreign exporters must account for Australia's steep, biannually indexed spirits excise tax and…

1. Treasury and Finance Tasmania - Liquor Fees 2026-27
2. Australian Taxation Office - Excise Duty Rates for Alcohol
3. Department of Treasury and Finance Tasmania - Liquor Licensing Act 1990 Guidelines and Section 46D Requirements
4. FSANZ - Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code Standard 2.7.5 (Spirits) & Standard 2.7.1 (Labelling)
5. Australian Border Force - Importing Alcohol and Duty Rates