Distillers Alcohol regulations in Lakshadweep
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Lakshadweep, India, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched August 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in August 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 Spotted something out of date?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
- 21
- Legal purchase age
- 21
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Distillery/Brewery/Winery/Bottling license under the Lakshadweep Excise Regulation, 2026
- Authority
- Excise Commissioner / Deputy Commissioner, Lakshadweep Administration
- Documents
- not confirmed
- Fees
- not confirmed
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Government-owned agencies/corporations (such as the Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports - SPORTS) and authorized licensed commercial entities holding an IEC, central FSSAI licence, and UT excise permits
- Licences or registrations
- Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Importer-Exporter Code (IEC), FSSAI Central Import Licence, and Lakshadweep Excise Import Licence/Permit
- Authority
- Excise Department of Lakshadweep, DGFT, and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Documents
- IEC certificate, FSSAI application (Form B) and central license, Certificate of Origin, Certificate of Analysis, Commercial Invoice, Bill of Entry, and UT Excise Import NOC/Permit
- Fees
- not confirmed
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Product and label registration
Required: yes Process: Dual clearance required: central food safety compliance via FSSAI Food Import Clearance System (FICS) and brand/label approval with the Lakshadweep Excise Department under the Lakshadweep Excise Regulation,…
Import rules
All consignments must be cleared through Indian Customs via ICEGATE with FSSAI clearance; shipments require mandatory Certificate of Origin, Certificate of Analysis, transport/movement permits issued by the UT Excise Department,…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
150% Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on CIF value under HS 2208, plus applicable national cesses (e.g., Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess / Social Welfare Surcharge as per Indian Customs Tariff)
Excise and taxes
Under the Lakshadweep Excise Regulation, 2026: 400% excise duty on Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and imported foreign spirits/liquor, 200% on beer, and 80% on wine. Spirits for human consumption are constitutionally exempt…
Retail and distribution
Regulated and restricted: government-owned corporations/agencies and approved commercial operators at licensed luxury beach resorts, high-end hospitality venues, international cruise vessels, and designated tourism zones; retail…
Online sale and delivery
banned
Labelling
Compliance with FSSAI (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations: English or Hindi language; declaration of generic name, brand name, ABV/proof, net quantity, batch/lot number, date of manufacture/packaging, importer and manufacturer…
Advertising
Direct advertising of alcoholic beverages across television, radio, print, and digital/internet media is prohibited nationwide under Rule 7(2)(viii) of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, the ASCI Code, and CCPA Guidelines…
Legal definitions of spirits
Regulated centrally by FSSAI under the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018 (as amended): distilled spirits must derive from agricultural fermentation; minimum allowable ABV is 36% for whisky, brandy,…
Dry or restricted areas
All residential village areas, town centres, and inhabited community zones across the archipelago's 10 inhabited islands remain dry; alcohol possession, sale, and consumption are legally restricted to designated resort islands…
Recent changes
June 2026: The President of India promulgated the Lakshadweep Excise Regulation, 2026 (Regulation No. 7 of 2026, republished in the Lakshadweep Gazette in August 2026), officially repealing the 47-year-old Lakshadweep Prohibition…
Opportunities for exporters
Commercial opportunities are confined to high-end hospitality, luxury beach resorts, and visiting cruise liners catering to international and domestic tourists. Demand is limited to premium distilled spirits and wines, but import…
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- Lakshadweep Gazette Notification - Promulgation of Lakshadweep Excise Regulation, 2026 (Reg. No. 7 of 2026)
- India Today - Lakshadweep Ends 47-Year Alcohol Ban With Regulated Sale Regime
- The South First - Centre Repeals 47-Year-Old Liquor Prohibition in Lakshadweep
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India - Alcoholic Beverages Regulations Compendium
- CBIC Customs Tariff Heading 2208 - Import Duties on Distilled Spirits
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