Alcohol regulations in Zambia

Licences needed

Liquor Manufacturer's Licence (Local Licensing Committee) and Excise Manufacturer's Licence (Zambia Revenue Authority)

Authority

Local Councils (under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development) and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA)

Documents

Certificate of Incorporation / PACRA registration, approved architectural factory plans, Council Public Health inspection report, Council Fire & Safety report, Police inspection report, Taxpayer Identification Number (TPIN), production flow charts, manufacturing process description, spirit formulations/recipes, and cost structure breakdown

Fees

Council statutory license fees set per local authority bylaws (typically between ZMW 240 and ZMW 1,500 under statutory fee units) plus ZRA administrative licensing requirements

Time to obtain

1 to 3 months (Local authorities may issue a 3-month temporary Protection Order to allow preparatory operations while the application is reviewed)

Who can import

Legally incorporated commercial entities and registered traders registered with PACRA and holding an active ZRA Taxpayer Identification Number (TPIN)

Licences or registrations

ZRA ASYCUDA customs importer registration, local Wholesale Liquor Licence from the relevant council, and ZCSA Import Clearance

Authority

Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA)

Documents

Commercial invoice, bill of lading or airway bill, packing list, certificate of origin, Certificate of Analysis (CoA) from the country of origin, and ASYCUDA customs declaration (Form CE 20)

Fees

Standard customs clearance processing fees; ZCSA import inspection and verification fees depending on consignment size and testing requirements

Time to obtain

Customs importer registration takes 2–5 business days; consignment import clearance takes 2–7 business days upon port arrival

Required

yes

Process

Mandatory product conformity approval under Compulsory Standard ZS 808 (Potable Spirits) through the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA). Prior to import or market release, product formulation, alcohol content, and packaging labels are evaluated for compliance, and testing samples are analyzed.

Authority

Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA)

Documents and samples

Product samples for laboratory testing, manufacturer Certificate of Analysis, batch release certificates, full ingredient and additive declarations, and high-resolution label artwork

Fees

ZCSA testing, assessment, and conformity certification fees according to official testing schedules

Renewal

Annual compliance certification with continuous per-consignment import inspection and batch testing

Time to obtain

2 to 4 weeks

Imports must be cleared through ASYCUDA using an authorized clearing agent. Importation, sale, and distribution of distilled spirits in sachets or plastic containers smaller than 200 ml are strictly banned under Statutory Instrument No. 72 of 2012. Each shipment must be accompanied by a Certificate of Origin (mandatory for COMESA/SADC duty-free preference) and a Certificate of Analysis. Spirits are subject to mandatory destination inspection by ZCSA and compliance with ZRA Smart Invoice and tax tracking regulations.

25% ad valorem on CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) value for HS Heading 2208; 0% for originating goods from SADC and COMESA member states meeting rules of origin with valid certificates

Excise Duty: 60% (calculated on CIF value + Customs Duty for imports; ex-factory price for domestic); Value Added Tax (VAT): 16% (calculated on CIF + Customs Duty + Excise Duty)

Private distribution via licensed supermarkets, bottle stores, liquor merchants, hotels, restaurants, and bars. Licenses are granted by Local Licensing Committees under the Liquor Licensing Act, 2011 (valid for 3 years). Retail bottle stores are strictly prohibited from permitting on-premise consumption. Permitted hours are governed by municipal regulations (generally 10:00 to 22:00 for retail/bottle stores; bars typically operate 10:00 to 22:00/24:00; nightclubs may extend later). Licensed outlets are prohibited within 300 meters of educational institutions, health facilities, and places of worship.

Restricted and unregulated specifically; online sales are not explicitly codified as an independent license type, requiring fulfillment to be conducted through physically licensed retail or wholesale liquor premises. Age verification (18+) is legally mandatory upon physical delivery, and sales or delivery to intoxicated persons or minors are criminal offences.

Labels must comply with ZS 808 and general food labelling rules: brand and product name (spirit class/type), percentage alcohol by volume (% ABV), net liquid volume in metric units, list of ingredients/additives, name and address of manufacturer or bottler, country of origin, and batch or lot identifier. English is the mandatory language. Warning statements against underage drinking (strictly not for sale to persons under 18) and health/pregnancy warnings must be visible. Packaging must be tamper-evident glass or approved food-grade rigid containers.

Regulated under Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) broadcast codes, fair trading standards, and industry self-regulation. Alcohol advertising cannot target children or minors. Television advertisements are restricted to evening/late-night broadcast windows (19:00 to 06:00) and cannot run during programs where more than 30% of the audience is under 18. Outdoor billboard advertising is barred within 500 meters of schools, religious establishments, and playgrounds. Ads must include responsible drinking messages and must not associate alcohol with driving, improved physical stamina, sexual success, or therapeutic benefits.

Defined under Compulsory Standard ZS 808 (Potable Spirits): potable spirits must have an ethyl alcohol content between 34.0% and 55.0% by volume at 20°C (with a tolerance of ±0.5% ABV) and a specific gravity between 0.9549 and 0.9592. The standard prescribes strict maximum limits for organic impurities (such as volatile acidity, esters, aldehydes, and methanol). Spirits must derive from fermented agricultural wash or neutral alcohol and possess taste and aroma characteristic of the declared product (e.g., whisky, gin, rum, vodka, brandy) without hazardous additives.

No entirely dry provinces or municipal jurisdictions exist; however, location-specific prohibitions apply: no bar or liquor-serving premises can be licensed within 300 meters of an educational institution, church, or health facility (Section 7(2), Liquor Licensing Act, 2011). Local councils and traditional leadership maintain powers to restrict operating hours and market trading zones.

• Full implementation and mandatory taxpayer onboarding of the ZRA Smart Invoice electronic billing framework across all alcohol importers, distributors, and manufacturers to eliminate excise and VAT leakages.
• Intensified nationwide market surveillance and border interdictions by ZCSA and local police against non-compliant potable spirits and illicit repackaging.
• Strict multi-agency enforcement of the ban on small plastic alcohol bottles and sachets below 200 ml, alongside renewed enforcement of the 300-meter buffer zone for liquor retail outlets near educational and health institutions.

Zambia offers a steady niche market for mid-tier and premium international spirits—particularly blended Scotch whisky, cognac, and gin—driven by urban consumer demand in Lusaka and the Copperbelt, although high cumulative taxation (25% duty + 60% excise + 16% VAT) restricts volume to affluent retail and formal on-trade venues.

• Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA)
• Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA)
• Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS)
• Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development

1. Zambia Trade Information Portal - HS 2208 Customs Tariffs
2. Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency - Compulsory Standards (Potable Spirits) (Declaration) Order (ZS 808)
3. Zambia Revenue Authority - Excise Duty Guidelines
4. National Assembly of Zambia - Liquor Licensing Act No. 20 of 2011
5. Business Regulatory Review Agency (BRRA) - Liquor Licensing Forms & Regulations