Distillers Alcohol regulations in Brunei Darussalam
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Brunei Darussalam, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. 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 Spotted something out of date?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
- Legal drinking age
- 17 (for non-Muslims in private residences only; consumption by Muslims is strictly prohibited)
- Legal purchase age
- None (purchase and sale are prohibited nationwide)
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- None available (manufacturing is banned)
- Authority
- Not applicable
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Non-Muslim incoming passengers aged 17 and above (for personal consumption only); commercial importation is strictly prohibited
- Licences or registrations
- None (commercial imports banned; personal imports require a customs declaration at port of entry)
- Authority
- Royal Customs and Excise Department (Ministry of Finance and Economy)
- Documents
- Passenger Customs Declaration (via Customs.BN mobile application or physical declaration at customs checkpoint)
- Fees
- Nil (for eligible passenger concession)
- Time to obtain
- Immediate upon arrival at border checkpoint
Product and label registration
Required: no Process: Not applicable (commercial import, listing, distribution, and sale are prohibited)
Import rules
Commercial import is prohibited under the Customs Order, 2006 and Customs (Prohibition and Restriction of Imports and Exports) Order. Non-Muslim travellers aged 17 and above may bring in a duty-free personal concession of up to 2…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
Commercial imports are prohibited. Customs tariff lists HS 2208 at NIL duty under the Customs Import Duties Order 2007, but commercial clearance is barred. Qualified personal passenger allowance is duty-free.
Excise and taxes
No commercial excise or sales tax/VAT applies due to the complete commercial ban; passenger concession is duty-free.
Retail and distribution
Strictly prohibited. No private retail shops, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, or bars are licensed to sell alcohol.
Online sale and delivery
Banned (all commercial alcohol sales, electronic commerce, postal shipments, and deliveries are illegal).
Labelling
Not applicable (commercial sale and distribution prohibited).
Advertising
Strictly banned across all media, print, broadcast, digital advertising, and sponsorship pursuant to Islamic law and national broadcasting codes.
Legal definitions of spirits
None defined in statutory commercial codes; intoxicating liquors are broadly prohibited under the Syariah Penal Code Order, 2013 and Customs regulations without separate commercial definitions for individual spirit categories.
Dry or restricted areas
The entire country is dry for commercial trade and public consumption; private consumption is restricted strictly to non-Muslims within private residences.
Recent changes
Customs enforcement confirmed passenger alcohol concession as an either/or option (up to 2 bottles of liquor or 12 cans of beer) rather than a combined allowance. Mandatory digital passenger declarations expanded via the…
Opportunities for exporters
There are no commercial opportunities for alcohol or spirits exporters in Brunei Darussalam due to the comprehensive statutory ban on commercial importation, distribution, and sale.
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