Alcohol regulations in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Licences needed

Distillery/excise licence and standard business/trade licence

Authority

Customs & Excise Department and Inland Revenue Department (Ministry of Finance)

Documents

not confirmed

Fees

not confirmed

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Who can import

Registered businesses and licensed wholesale/retail entities registered with Customs & Excise and the Inland Revenue Department

Licences or registrations

ASYCUDA World registration, Tax Identification Number (TIN), and an import permit for restricted goods

Authority

Customs & Excise Department (Ministry of Finance) / Ministry of International Trade

Documents

Commercial invoice, bill of lading/airway bill, ASYCUDA Single Administrative Document (SAD), packing list, and certificate of origin

Fees

Standard customs clearance and processing fees apply

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Required

no

Process

No separate mandatory pre-market brand or label registration system (such as US TTB COLA); imports are inspected and cleared by Customs with compliance checks against national and CARICOM labelling standards

Authority

Saint Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards (SKNBS)

Documents and samples

Commercial and shipping documents; sample inspections upon request

Spirits are classified as restricted goods requiring customs clearance through the ASYCUDA World system; no state import monopoly exists (private importation is standard); physical excise tax strip stamps are not required on individual bottles; CARICOM certificate of origin is required for preferential tariff treatment.

Spirits under HS 2208 are assessed under the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET) using specific duty rates (per proof gallon or per litre) or ad valorem duty rates (ranging up to 40%–70% depending on the specific spirit tariff classification) on CIF value.

6% Customs Service Charge (CSC) on CIF; excise/alcohol duty (up to 50%); standard Value Added Tax (VAT) of 17% applied on the accumulated landed cost (CIF + Duty + CSC + Excise).

Private retail and on-premise sales are permitted under the Liquor Licences Act (Cap. 18.21); licences (wholesale, retail shop/grocer, hotel, restaurant, and bar) are granted by the Magistrate's Court and administered via the Inland Revenue Department; prescribed operating and closing hours apply.

restricted; e-commerce operators and delivery services must hold valid retail liquor licences, and delivery of alcohol to individuals under 18 years of age is strictly prohibited.

Must comply with SKNBS prepackaged goods regulations (SKNNS 004 / CARICOM CRS 55-2); mandatory items include brand/trade name, net quantity in metric units, alcohol strength (% ABV), manufacturer/bottler/importer details, batch/lot identification, and country of origin; English language is required.

Permitted with general broadcast and public standards restrictions; marketing directed at minors, depicting underage drinking, or linking alcohol consumption with driving is prohibited.

Saint Kitts and Nevis applies CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) regional specifications, notably the CARICOM Specification for Rum (CRS 25), defining rum derived from sugarcane/molasses and specifying standard minimum bottling strengths; specific national statutory definitions for other spirits are not confirmed.

None; alcoholic beverages may be sold and consumed across all parishes on both Saint Kitts and Nevis under valid licence.

• In September 2026, the Government presented the Liquor Licence (Amendment) Bill, 2026, creating four scheduled Magistrate's Court liquor licensing sittings per year (January, April, July, and October) instead of a single annual January sitting, and allowing uncontested renewals to be collected without mandatory court appearances.
• Corporate income tax was lowered from 33% to 25% effective 1 January 2024, improving operating margins for domestic commercial distributors and producers.

The country's robust tourism, resort, and high-end yachting sectors drive consistent local demand for imported premium spirits, single malts, and niche liqueurs. Exporters benefit from a straightforward private distribution model, though landed costs must account for the 6% Customs Service Charge, 17% VAT, and alcohol duties.

• Saint Kitts and Nevis Customs & Excise Department
• Saint Kitts and Nevis Inland Revenue Department
• Saint Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards (SKNBS)
• Magistrate's Court / Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs

1. Saint Kitts and Nevis Information Service - Liquor Licence (Amendment) Bill, 2026
2. The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer - Government Moves to Streamline Liquor Licensing Process
3. St. Kitts & Nevis Customs & Excise Department - Tariff and Duty Information
4. Saint Kitts and Nevis Inland Revenue Department - Liquor Licences Act Cap. 18.21
5. World Trade Organization - Trade Policy Review: OECS (Saint Kitts and Nevis)