Alcohol regulations in Guyana

Licences needed

Distiller's Licence / Manufacturer of Excisable Goods Licence, bonded warehouse permit, and GA-FDD food/beverage manufacturing licence

Authority

Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD)

Documents

TIN registration, business registration/incorporation certificates, premises floor plans, environmental compliance approval (EPA), fire safety approval, equipment specifications

Fees

Varies by still capacity, premises classification, and annual excise registration schedules (subject to statutory stamp/excise licensing duties)

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Who can import

Any registered commercial entity or individual registered for tax and customs in Guyana

Licences or registrations

Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), registration as an importer of excisable goods with GRA, registration with GA-FDD as a food/beverage importer

Authority

Guyana Revenue Authority (Customs & Excise Department) and Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce

Documents

TIN certificate, Certificate of Incorporation/Business Registration, GA-FDD importer permit, commercial invoice, bill of lading, packing list, Certificate of Origin, Certificate of Free Sale/Analysis

Fees

Standard commercial customs processing fees; no prohibitive standalone importer license fee

Time to obtain

1 to 3 weeks for tax and importer profile registration

Required

yes

Process

Imported products must undergo pre-import or port-of-entry compliance verification by the GA-FDD and must meet national standards set by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS); importers must provide labels indicating importer/distributor contact details

Authority

Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) and Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS)

Documents and samples

Specimen label artwork, Certificate of Analysis (CoA) from accredited lab, Certificate of Free Sale from country of origin, product samples upon request

Fees

GA-FDD inspection/clearance and product document verification fees (nominal statutory inspection fees)

Renewal

Annual registration for importers/distributors; label review per formulation or packaging change

Time to obtain

2 to 4 weeks

Customs clearance processed via ASYCUDA World; declaration must include commercial invoice, bill of lading, and certificate of origin. Shipments of excisable goods must pay duties prior to customs release unless transferred to a GRA-bonded warehouse. Non-returnable beverage containers attract an Environmental Tax. Formal strip stamps are not currently applied on spirit bottles, but customs documentation and clearance stamps are mandatory.

Spirits under HS 2208 (whisky, rum, gin, vodka, liqueurs) attract the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET), typically 20% to 30% ad valorem based on CIF value, depending on the tariff classification.

Excise Tax: GYD 220.00 per litre on distilled spirits (rum, whisky, vodka, gin, brandy, liqueurs, cordials) under the Excise Tax Regulations; Value Added Tax (VAT): 14% levied on total CIF value + Customs Duty + Excise Tax; Environmental Levy: GYD 10 per unit on non-returnable beverage containers under the Customs Act.

Private licensed trade; businesses must obtain an Intoxicating Liquor Licence issued by the District Licensing Board and GRA (licence types include Spirit Shop Licence, Off-Licence, Hotel Licence, Restaurant Liquor Licence, and Members' Club Licence). Permitted operating hours vary by licence (off-licences/spirit shops generally restricted to 07:00–21:00 or 23:00, while hotels/nightclubs operate under extended permits). Licensees are legally prohibited from serving visibly intoxicated patrons or designated drivers.

restricted (e-commerce platforms and retail stores may arrange delivery provided alcohol is sourced from an authorized licensed off-licence or spirit shop; strict mandatory verification of legal age (18+) applies to delivery recipients under the 2022 amendments).

English language required; brand name, spirit category/designation of identity, alcoholic strength by volume (% ABV), net volume in metric units, country of origin, batch/lot number, name and address of foreign manufacturer, and name and address of local importer/distributor (mandated by GA-FDD and GNBS standard GYS 9-1 / GYS 9-2).

Permitted with limits; alcohol advertising and sponsorship are legal across print, broadcast, and digital media, but cannot target minors. Under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Act 2022, licensed establishments are legally mandated to display notices and make announcements discouraging drinking and driving.

Regulated under Guyana National Bureau of Standards and CARICOM regional standards (CRS 25:2008 for Rum): Rum must be obtained exclusively by distillation of fermented sugarcane molasses/syrup/juice, distilled at less than 96.0% ABV, bottled at a minimum of 40.0% ABV (or minimum 37.5% where accepted by excise), and aged rum must be matured in wooden vats/barrels for a minimum of 1 year. Other distilled spirits (whisky, vodka, gin, brandy) generally follow international/CARICOM minimum ABV benchmarks of 37.5%–40%.

No dry regions nationally; however, under the Amerindian Act 2006, indigenous Village Councils have statutory authority to enact local community rules restricting or banning the sale, supply, and consumption of alcoholic beverages within their village boundaries.

• Full implementation and strict nationwide enforcement of the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Act 2022, introducing Section 52A requiring mandatory age checks before entry/service and imposing fines up to GYD 1,000,000 for serving or employing minors.
• Enforcement of strict licensee liability prohibiting the sale of alcohol to intoxicated patrons and designated drivers to curb road accidents.
• Expansion of GRA's digital portal for electronic filing, verification, and renewals of liquor licenses.

Guyana's booming offshore oil sector has spurred massive GDP growth and an influx of international business and hospitality investment, rapidly expanding consumer demand for premium imported whiskies, cognacs, vodkas, and specialty spirits.

• Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA)
• Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS)
• Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD)
• Ministry of Legal Affairs

1. Guyana Revenue Authority - Excise Tax Regulations & Rates
2. Guyana Revenue Authority - Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act Cap. 82:21
3. Parliament of Guyana - Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Act
4. International Trade Administration - Guyana Customs Regulations, Tariffs, and Labeling
5. Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) - Importer Labelling Guidelines
6. WIRSPA - CARICOM Regional Standard for Rum (CRS 25: 2008)