Distillers Alcohol regulations in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched April 2024.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in April 2024 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 Spotted something out of date?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
- Distillery Registration under the Liquor Duty Ordinance 2014, combined with planning and development permission for production premises
- Authority
- Collector of Customs and Excise (Controller of Excise) and the Land Development Control Authority (Saint Helena)
- Documents
- Registration application form, technical specifications of still and brewing/distilling apparatus, site/floor layout plan, and security measures for excise storage
- Fees
- not confirmed
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Registered commercial businesses and individuals. On Tristan da Cunha, visitors are subject to strict personal quotas (maximum 2 x 750 ml bottles of spirits).
- Licences or registrations
- Customs Import Entry declaration pursuant to the Customs and Excise Ordinance 1999 (St Helena) and Customs Ordinance (Ascension / Tristan da Cunha); biosecurity declaration
- Authority
- HM Customs & Excise (Saint Helena / Ascension / Tristan da Cunha)
- Documents
- Commercial invoice, bill of lading / airway bill, customs entry form, packing list, and biosecurity declaration
- Fees
- Standard customs entry and clearance processing fees; wharfage rates apply after initial landing period
- Time to obtain
- Cleared upon cargo vessel arrival and inspection (typically 1 to 5 business days)
Product and label registration
Required: no Process: No brand or label pre-approval system (such as US TTB COLA or Indian state excise registration) exists. Goods clear customs against standard commercial invoices and packing declarations.
Import rules
Shipments must be cleared through designated customs landing areas (e.g., Jamestown/Rupert's Bay on Saint Helena, Georgetown on Ascension, Calshot Harbour on Tristan). Goods are cleared on presentation of commercial documents and…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
Specific import duty per litre of liquid volume under the First Schedule of the Customs (Tariffs and Exemptions) Regulations. Spirits exceeding 22% ABV are subject to a specific duty of approximately £20.82 per litre (adjusted from £20.60 following the 1.1% alcohol duty increase effective 1 April 2024); spirits under 22% ABV are taxed at lower volumetric rates.
Excise and taxes
Under the Liquor Duty Ordinance 2014 (amended 2023/2024), domestically produced spirits exceeding 22% ABV are taxed at £10.30 per litre, designed to rise toward 50% of the imported spirit duty rate by end of 2026. There is no…
Retail and distribution
Private licensed grocery retailers, community stores, bars, hotels, and restaurants licensed under the Liquor Ordinance by the Liquor Licensing Board (Saint Helena). On Tristan da Cunha, retail sales take place through the Island…
Online sale and delivery
Allowed by licensed local retailers and hospitality operators under standard retail/off-license permissions; no specific digital e-commerce alcohol licensing framework exists.
Labelling
Must comply with standard UK and international trade conventions in English: clear statement of product identity, alcoholic strength (% ABV), nominal volume (ml/cl/l), batch/lot identifier, and name/address of producer or…
Advertising
Regulated under local public decency laws and UK-aligned broadcasting guidelines; advertisements directed at minors or encouraging excessive consumption are prohibited.
Legal definitions of spirits
Under the Saint Helena Liquor Duty Ordinance 2014, 'spirits' is defined as any distilled beverage that contains no added sugar and has at least 20% ABV; 'liqueur' is defined as any distilled beverage bottled with added sugar and…
Dry or restricted areas
No entirely dry islands, but Tristan da Cunha restricts visitor alcohol imports to a personal quota of 2 x 750 ml spirits and 12 cans/bottles of beer. Military installations on Ascension Island (RAF / US Space Force) maintain…
Recent changes
Effective 1 April 2024, the Customs and Excise (Tariffs and Exemptions) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 increased import duties on alcoholic beverages by 1.1% on Saint Helena. Effective 1 April 2024, Saint Helena established a…
Opportunities for exporters
The market size is strictly limited by the combined population of under 6,000 residents and infrequent maritime freight logistics. However, steady export opportunities exist for recognized international whisky, gin, and rum…
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Sign in to read the full guideSources
- Saint Helena Government - Amendments to Customs, Excise and Liquor Duty Tariffs (April 2024)
- Saint Helena Government - Liquor Duty Ordinance 2014 and Subsidiary Legislation
- Saint Helena Government - Customs and Excise Ordinance 1999 (Revised Edition 2023)
- Tristan da Cunha Information for Visitors and Import Regulations
- Ascension Island Government - Biosecurity and Import Guidance
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