Alcohol regulations in Bahamas

Licences needed

Distiller's / Manufacturer's Licence under the Spirits and Beer Manufacture Act (Ch. 373), alongside a general Business Licence under the Business Licence Act and Town Planning/environmental approvals.

Authority

Ministry of Finance / Department of Inland Revenue (Business Licence Unit)

Documents

Formal application to the Minister, business plan, premises blueprints/site plans, proof of land ownership/lease, environmental health clearance, police character reference, and a statutory bond.

Fees

$1,000 BSD annually for a spirits manufacturing licence, plus applicable business licence fees.

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Who can import

Businesses registered in The Bahamas holding a valid Business Licence with commercial import privileges and registered with Bahamas Customs via the Click2Clear (Bahamas Electronic Single Window) system.

Licences or registrations

Bahamas Customs Click2Clear TIN/importer registration and relevant business licence (e.g., wholesale/retail liquor merchant).

Authority

Bahamas Customs and Excise Department

Documents

Business Licence, Tax Identification Number (TIN), Certificate of Good Standing, commercial invoice, bill of lading/airway bill, packing list, and customs declaration (C-Form via Click2Clear).

Fees

No specific stand-alone import licence fee, but standard Click2Clear customs processing fees apply (1% of CIF value, minimum $10 BSD, maximum $750 BSD).

Time to obtain

1 to 2 weeks for importer/Click2Clear registration

Required

no

Process

There is no formal prior product-by-product or label pre-approval system (such as US TTB COLA) required before commercial importation. Imported spirits are cleared directly at customs provided they meet standard Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ) standards and general labeling laws.

Authority

Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ)

Documents and samples

Standard commercial shipping documents upon import; laboratory certificate of analysis or sanitary certificates may be requested upon inspection.

Fees

None for standard import clearance.

Renewal

None

Time to obtain

None required prior to shipping

Spirits must be imported through designated customs ports of entry by a registered importer of record. Shipments must be declared through Click2Clear. A certificate of origin is required for preferential tariff treatment (e.g., CARIFORUM-EU EPA). Under the Spirits and Beer Manufacture Act, local whisky must remain in bond for at least 3 years before clearance.

Spirits under HS 2208 (whiskies, rum, gin, vodka, liqueurs) enter at 0% (Free) customs duty under the Tariff Act, but are subject to a specific excise duty assessed upon importation under the Excise Act.

Under the Excise Act, 2023, distilled spirits (HS 2208, including whiskies and rum) carry an excise duty of $15.00 BSD per proof gallon upon entry (or local tax on manufacture). A 10% Value Added Tax (VAT) applies to the total landed value (CIF + excise duty + 1% customs processing fee + environmental levies).

Regulated under the Liquor Licences Act (Ch. 372). Retail sales are carried out by licensed private entities; there is no state retail monopoly. Licences are issued by local Licensing Authorities (in New Providence, the Licensing Authority; in the Family Islands, District Licensing Boards). Licence categories include Wholesale, General (retail shop), Hotel, Restaurant, and Club. Permitted operating hours vary by licence type; standard package stores typically operate Monday through Saturday during specified business hours.

allowed

Labels must be in English. In accordance with the Food Safety and Quality Act and BBSQ standards (including CARICOM Regional Standards like BNS CCS 25:2008 for Rum Specifications), labels must display the brand/trade name, class/type of spirit, net volume (metric units), country of origin, name and address of the manufacturer or distributor, and alcohol by volume (ABV % vol). Health warning statements are customary on international stock but not uniformly mandated on imports; tax stamps across the bottle mouth may be applied under customs bonded supervision where designated.

Alcohol advertising and sponsorship are broadly legal across print, outdoor, digital, and broadcast media. Broadcast advertisements are subject to general decency and consumer protection guidelines, avoiding direct targeting of minors.

The Bahamas adopts CARICOM regional specifications through the Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ), including BNS CCS 25:2008 (Rum Specifications), which defines rum as distilled from fermented sugarcane products with specific minimum/maximum spirit strengths. Traditional international spirit identities (whisky, vodka, gin, brandy) conform to international Codex Alimentarius and exporting-country standards.

None nationwide; however, the Minister holds the power to prohibit distillation in specified districts, and licensing authorities have discretion to restrict liquor premises near schools, places of worship, or specific residential areas.

• Continued enforcement of the modernised customs clearance via the Click2Clear Electronic Single Window platform.
• Implementation and consolidation of the Excise Act, 2023 tariff schedules setting spirits excise duties at $15.00 BSD per proof gallon.
• Ongoing development and adoption by BBSQ of CARICOM Regional Standards (CRS) into national technical standards, including specifications for rum and brewery products.

The Bahamas relies heavily on imported premium spirits to supply its expansive hospitality and tourism sector, cruise visitor trade, and duty-free retail market. Exporters face no pre-import brand registration hurdles, though shipments carry an excise levy of $15.00 BSD per proof gallon plus 10% VAT.

• Bahamas Customs and Excise Department
• Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ)
• Department of Inland Revenue (Business Licence Unit)

1. Bahamas Customs Department - Excise Act, 2023 First Schedule
2. Statute Law of The Bahamas - Spirits and Beer Manufacture Act (Chapter 373)
3. Statute Law of The Bahamas - Liquor Licences Act (Chapter 372)
4. Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ) - Rum Specifications (BNS CCS 25:2008)
5. Bahamas Customs Tariff Schedule - Heading 2208