Alcohol regulations in Latvia

Licences needed

Special permit (license) for an approved excise warehousekeeper (akcīzes preču noliktavas turētājs) and food establishment registration/approval from PVD.

Authority

State Revenue Service (VID) and Food and Veterinary Service (PVD)

Documents

Application via VID EDS system, commercial register registration, proof of premise rights (ownership/lease), floor plan and technological flowcharts, list and metrological certification of distillation/storage equipment and measurement devices, security/HACCP compliance documentation, and financial security (excise tax guarantee).

Fees

State duty EUR 711 for the excise warehousekeeper license for alcoholic beverages, plus required bank guarantee/deposit for excise duty.

Time to obtain

Approximately 30 to 60 days (1 to 2 months).

Who can import

Legal entities registered in the Latvian Commercial Register with an active EORI number holding a VID special permit (excise warehousekeeper, registered consignee, or wholesale license).

Licences or registrations

EORI number, special permit (license) for excise goods operations (approved excise warehousekeeper or registered consignee for duty-suspension; wholesale license for duty-paid goods), and registration in EMCS / customs systems.

Authority

State Revenue Service (VID) Customs Board and Excise Board

Documents

Company registration documents, EORI registration, VID licence application, customs declarations (SAD), commercial invoices, transport documentation (CMR/bill of lading), financial security/bond.

Fees

EUR 711 for tax warehousekeeper or registered consignee license; EUR 143 for wholesale license per site; EORI registration is free.

Time to obtain

1 to 2 months.

Required

no

Process

Latvia does not operate a pre-market brand/label registration or approval procedure for distilled spirits (unlike US TTB COLA). Products must comply with EU spirits definitions and food labelling rules under self-compliance. Importers/producers must register with PVD as food business operators and apply for VID excise strip stamps prior to commercial release.

Authority

Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) for food regulatory compliance; State Revenue Service (VID) for excise stamping.

Documents and samples

No pre-market dossiers or samples required; commercial invoices, technical specifications, and certificates of analysis must be retained for market surveillance.

Fees

None for label approval; fee applies only for ordering VID excise tax stamps.

Renewal

None

Time to obtain

Immediate / Not applicable (routine clearance upon stamping and tax payment).

Imports from outside the EU require an EU-established Importer of Record, filing a Single Administrative Document (SAD), customs clearance, and adherence to EU standards. Movement under duty suspension requires EMCS (electronic administrative document - e-AD) into an approved tax warehouse. All retail containers of spirits released for consumption in Latvia must carry official Latvian fiscal excise stamps (akcīzes nodokļa markas) issued by the VID. Shipments require commercial invoice, transport documents, and certificate of origin.

0% (Free) for most distilled spirits under HS heading 2208 (whisky, vodka, gin, rum, brandy, liqueurs) under the EU Common Customs Tariff for MFN third countries.

Excise duty on spirits (classified under 'other alcoholic beverages') is EUR 2,084 per 100 litres of absolute alcohol (effective from 1 March 2026; set to rise to EUR 2,178 on 1 March 2027 and EUR 2,276 on 1 March 2028). Standard Value Added Tax (VAT / PVN) is 21%.

Sold by private licensed supermarkets, liquor stores, and hospitality venues (no state retail monopoly). Effective 1 August 2025, off-premise retail sales hours are restricted to 10:00–20:00 Monday to Saturday and 10:00–18:00 on Sundays. On-premise sales in bars and restaurants are permitted during their licensed opening hours, but alcohol sales and consumption are prohibited at gambling machines and tables.

allowed with conditions: Distance selling and home delivery of alcohol are permitted for licensed businesses, provided rigorous age verification (18+) is conducted both at purchase and at delivery. Deliveries may only be fulfilled during legal retail store hours and cannot be delivered earlier than 6 hours after placing the order (mandatory 6-hour delay implemented 1 August 2025 to curb impulse consumption).

Must comply with EU Regulation 1169/2011 and EU Regulation 2019/787: sales denomination, net quantity, ABV (% vol), lot number ('L'), name and address of EU producer/importer, and allergen declarations in the Latvian language. A physical VID excise stamp must be affixed over the bottle closure. In-store warning signs regarding health risks and underage bans are mandatory; dedicated national warning labels on bottles are scheduled to take effect 1 January 2028.

Severely restricted: Advertising spirits on radio and television is prohibited. As of August 2025, marketing and advertising of prices, sales promotions, '2-for-1' deals, and loyalty scheme discounts on alcoholic beverages are completely banned across print media, cinema, outdoor media, websites, apps, and inside retail stores. Alcohol sponsorship of youth and sporting events involving minors is forbidden.

Directly governed by EU Regulation (EU) 2019/787: Whisky/Whiskey (minimum 40% ABV, distilled from mash of cereals, matured at least 3 years in wooden casks); Vodka (minimum 37.5% ABV, produced from agricultural ethyl alcohol); Rum (minimum 37.5% ABV, distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses); Gin (minimum 37.5% ABV, juniper-flavoured ethyl alcohol); Brandy/Weinbrand (minimum 36% ABV, distilled from wine and matured in oak); Agricultural neutral alcohol (minimum 96.0% ABV).

No dry jurisdictions or completely alcohol-free municipalities exist. Commercial sales are prohibited in educational, childcare, healthcare, and social care institutions, military and penitentiary grounds, at sports events with participants under 18, and at gaming equipment/tables in gambling halls.

• On 9 January 2025, the Saeima passed comprehensive amendments to the Handling of Alcoholic Beverages Law, taking effect 1 August 2025, which reduced retail sales hours to 10:00–20:00 (Mon–Sat) and 10:00–18:00 (Sun).
• Introduced a mandatory minimum 6-hour delay between placing an online/app order for alcohol and courier delivery, effective 1 August 2025.
• Banned alcohol price advertisements, discounts, loyalty promotions ('2-for-1'), and marketing across print, cinema, websites, social media, and in-store displays as of 1 August 2025.
• The Saeima formally rejected proposals to raise the legal alcohol purchase age from 18 to 20, maintaining the age at 18.
• Enacted multi-year excise tax schedule: spirits excise duty increased to EUR 1,955 per 100L absolute alcohol on 1 March 2025 and to EUR 2,084 on 1 March 2026, with further increases legislated for 2027 and 2028.

Latvia offers a stable, liberal EU import market with strong consumer interest in imported whiskies, rum, gin, and premium spirits. Exporters benefit from zero tariffs under the EU common customs regime, though market entrants must navigate scheduled annual excise duty rises and tight marketing and trading-hour limitations.

• State Revenue Service (Valsts ieņēmumu dienests - VID)
• Food and Veterinary Service (Pārtikas un veterinārais dienests - PVD)
• Consumer Rights Protection Centre (Patērētāju tiesību aizsardzības centrs - PTAC)
• Ministry of Health (Veselības ministrija)

1. State Revenue Service of Latvia (VID) - Excise Duty Rates and Regulations
2. Latvian Public Broadcasting (LSM) - Saeima adopts alcohol restrictions
3. Nordic Alcohol and Drug Policy Network - Latvia Tightens Retail Alcohol Sales
4. Baltic News Network - Excise duty rates for alcoholic beverages increase in Latvia
5. US TTB - International Alcohol Beverage Trade: Latvia Requirements