Distillers Alcohol regulations in Saint Lucia
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Saint Lucia, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched November 2025.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in November 2025 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 Spotted something out of date?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
- 16 for on-premise consumption under statute; 18 widely recognized in commercial practice and proposed reforms
- Legal purchase age
- 16 under Liquor Licence Act Cap. 13.17; 18 in general commercial practice
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- Licences needed
- Distiller's Licence / Spirit Manufacturer's Licence under Customs and Excise / Spirits legislation, plus local planning and environmental health approvals
- Authority
- Customs and Excise Department (Ministry of Finance) and Development Control Authority
- Documents
- Application form, premises and plant layout schematics, proof of business registration, tax identification number (TIN), police record/clearance, environmental impact and public health approvals
- Fees
- not confirmed
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Import licence and registration
- Who can import
- Registered corporate entities, licensed wholesale traders, and individuals registered in ASYCUDA World
- Licences or registrations
- ASYCUDA World Importer/Exporter registration; Ministry of Commerce import licence for regulated/restricted items
- Authority
- Customs and Excise Department; Ministry of Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs
- Documents
- ASYCUDA Single Administrative Document (SAD), commercial invoice, bill of lading or airway bill, certificate of origin (e.g. CARICOM), packing list, certificate of analysis/hygiene
- Fees
- ASYCUDA processing and registration fees; standard customs processing charges
- Time to obtain
- not confirmed
Product and label registration
Required: no Process: No separate brand registration or pre-market approval system (such as US TTB COLA); imported spirits are cleared through customs subject to verification of compliance with Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards…
Import rules
Imports must be declared via ASYCUDA World with an authorised customs broker; shipments require standard commercial documentation, certificate of origin for preferential CARICOM treatment, and conformity with SLBS specifications.…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
Spirits under HS 2208 are subject to the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET), typically ranging between 20% and 30% ad valorem on CIF value (0% for originating goods within CARICOM); customs service charge (CSC) of 6% applies.
Excise and taxes
Excise tax under Excise Tax Act Cap. 15.07 (amended by S.I. No. 153 of 2025): Brandy (<=46% ABV) EC$12.50/L, other EC$8.50/L; Whiskies (<=46% ABV) EC$10.70/L, other EC$12.50/L; Unmatured rum EC$1.30/L, other rum EC$8.40/L; Gin…
Retail and distribution
Private sector retailers, supermarkets, grocers, hotels, and bars hold licences issued under the Liquor Licence Act Cap. 13.17. Licences (wholesale, retail, bar, hotel, club, restaurant, special event) are granted by the Liquor…
Online sale and delivery
allowed
Labelling
Must comply with SLBS national compulsory standards (e.g. SLNS 12:2003): English language, brand name, generic product name/type, net contents (metric), alcoholic strength (% ABV), full name and address of manufacturer or…
Advertising
Permitted with restrictions; advertising must not target minors or associate alcohol consumption with motor vehicle operation, hazardous activities, or exaggerated therapeutic claims.
Legal definitions of spirits
Rum is governed by compulsory standard SLNS 12:2003 and the Saint Lucia Rum Geographical Indication (minimum 40% ABV, or 37.5% ABV for flavoured/spiced rum; distilled from sugarcane products, aged rum must be aged at least 1 year…
Dry or restricted areas
None geographically; dry periods apply nationwide on specific religious holidays (Good Friday, Christmas Day, Corpus Christi) and on polling days near voting stations.
Recent changes
Excise Tax (Amendment of Schedule 1) (No. 15) Order, 2025 (Statutory Instrument 2025 No. 153) gazetted on October 31, 2025, updating the statutory excise rate schedules for excisable goods. Enactment and implementation of the…
Opportunities for exporters
Saint Lucia's high-end tourism and hospitality sector supports strong demand for premium imported whiskies, gins, and brandies. Exporters face predictable volume-based excise duty structures and do not require cumbersome…
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Sign in to read the full guideSources
- Excise Tax (Amendment of Schedule 1) (No. 15) Order, 2025 - Statutory Instrument 2025 No. 153
- Excise Tax Act Cap. 15.07 Schedule 1 - Revised Laws of Saint Lucia
- Liquor Licence Act Cap. 13.17 - Laws of Saint Lucia
- Saint Lucia National Standard SLNS 12:2003 Specification for Rum
- Saint Lucia Customs Tariff Chapter 22 (ASYCUDAWorld)
Selling into Saint Lucia or buying from it?