Distillers Alcohol regulations in Bahamas
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Bahamas, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched April 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in April 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 Spotted something out of date?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
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Distiller's / Manufacturer's Licence under the Spirits and Beer Manufacture Act (Ch. 373), alongside a general Business Licence under the Business Licence Act and Town Planning/environmental approvals.
- Authority
- Ministry of Finance / Department of Inland Revenue (Business Licence Unit)
- Documents
- Formal application to the Minister, business plan, premises blueprints/site plans, proof of land ownership/lease, environmental health clearance, police character reference, and a statutory bond.
- Fees
- $1,000 BSD annually for a spirits manufacturing licence, plus applicable business licence fees.
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Businesses registered in The Bahamas holding a valid Business Licence with commercial import privileges and registered with Bahamas Customs via the Click2Clear (Bahamas Electronic Single Window) system.
- Licences or registrations
- Bahamas Customs Click2Clear TIN/importer registration and relevant business licence (e.g., wholesale/retail liquor merchant).
- Authority
- Bahamas Customs and Excise Department
- Documents
- Business Licence, Tax Identification Number (TIN), Certificate of Good Standing, commercial invoice, bill of lading/airway bill, packing list, and customs declaration (C-Form via Click2Clear).
- Fees
- No specific stand-alone import licence fee, but standard Click2Clear customs processing fees apply (1% of CIF value, minimum $10 BSD, maximum $750 BSD).
- Time to obtain
- 1 to 2 weeks for importer/Click2Clear registration
Product and label registration
Required: no Process: There is no formal prior product-by-product or label pre-approval system (such as US TTB COLA) required before commercial importation. Imported spirits are cleared directly at customs provided they meet…
Import rules
Spirits must be imported through designated customs ports of entry by a registered importer of record. Shipments must be declared through Click2Clear. A certificate of origin is required for preferential tariff treatment (e.g.,…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
Spirits under HS 2208 (whiskies, rum, gin, vodka, liqueurs) enter at 0% (Free) customs duty under the Tariff Act, but are subject to a specific excise duty assessed upon importation under the Excise Act.
Excise and taxes
Under the Excise Act, 2023, distilled spirits (HS 2208, including whiskies and rum) carry an excise duty of $15.00 BSD per proof gallon upon entry (or local tax on manufacture). A 10% Value Added Tax (VAT) applies to the total…
Retail and distribution
Regulated under the Liquor Licences Act (Ch. 372). Retail sales are carried out by licensed private entities; there is no state retail monopoly. Licences are issued by local Licensing Authorities (in New Providence, the Licensing…
Online sale and delivery
allowed
Labelling
Labels must be in English. In accordance with the Food Safety and Quality Act and BBSQ standards (including CARICOM Regional Standards like BNS CCS 25:2008 for Rum Specifications), labels must display the brand/trade name,…
Advertising
Alcohol advertising and sponsorship are broadly legal across print, outdoor, digital, and broadcast media. Broadcast advertisements are subject to general decency and consumer protection guidelines, avoiding direct targeting of…
Legal definitions of spirits
The Bahamas adopts CARICOM regional specifications through the Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ), including BNS CCS 25:2008 (Rum Specifications), which defines rum as distilled from fermented sugarcane products with…
Dry or restricted areas
None nationwide; however, the Minister holds the power to prohibit distillation in specified districts, and licensing authorities have discretion to restrict liquor premises near schools, places of worship, or specific…
Recent changes
Continued enforcement of the modernised customs clearance via the Click2Clear Electronic Single Window platform. Implementation and consolidation of the Excise Act, 2023 tariff schedules setting spirits excise duties at $15.00…
Opportunities for exporters
The Bahamas relies heavily on imported premium spirits to supply its expansive hospitality and tourism sector, cruise visitor trade, and duty-free retail market. Exporters face no pre-import brand registration hurdles, though…
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- Bahamas Customs Department - Excise Act, 2023 First Schedule
- Statute Law of The Bahamas - Spirits and Beer Manufacture Act (Chapter 373)
- Statute Law of The Bahamas - Liquor Licences Act (Chapter 372)
- Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ) - Rum Specifications (BNS CCS 25:2008)
- Bahamas Customs Tariff Schedule - Heading 2208
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