Alcohol regulations in Greenland

Licences needed

Commercial distillery registration / authorization and municipal food safety and environmental permits

Authority

Skattestyrelsen (Tax Agency) and Greenland Food Authority (VFMG)

Documents

not confirmed

Fees

not confirmed

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Who can import

Licensed commercial businesses (supermarket retailers, hospitality distributors, wholesalers) holding valid business registrations, or private individuals importing for personal use under specific permits.

Licences or registrations

Commercial import tax clearance; for private freight imports, a digital one-time import permit (engangstilladelse) is mandatory; deposit barcode registration via the Deposit Administration portal.

Authority

Skattestyrelsen (Greenland Tax Agency)

Documents

Commercial invoice, freight booking details (vessel/carrier details), CVR/CPR identification, customs declaration, and deposit packaging registration.

Fees

DKK 250 processing fee per application for private freight import permits; commercial regulatory fees not confirmed.

Time to obtain

Private import applications must be submitted at least 5 working days before the freight delivery deadline; commercial processing times vary.

Required

no

Process

There is no formal spirit formula or brand-label pre-approval process (such as US COLA). However, all commercial beverage containers must be registered in the Greenlandic deposit and return system (Emballageordningen) prior to import.

Authority

Greenland Tax Agency (Skattestyrelsen) and the Deposit Administration

Documents and samples

Packaging dimensions, barcode data, and container material details for deposit registration.

Fees

Deposit administration fees according to packaging type

Renewal

not confirmed

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Greenland is not part of the EU or the EU customs territory. All cargo imports must go through authorized freight channels (primarily sea freight via Royal Arctic Line or air freight via Air Greenland). Receivers must hold an alcohol permit or obtain an import authorization before dispatch. Commercial consignments do not require physical excise stamps, but all spirits are assessed specific import duties upon arrival.

Specific import duty (indførselsafgift) based on ABV bands per litre: 22.10%–26.09%: DKK 205.00/L; 26.10%–30.09%: DKK 253.00/L; 30.10%–35.09%: DKK 308.00/L; 35.10%–45.09% (standard spirits): DKK 397.00/L; 45.10%–60.09%: DKK 544.00/L; 60.10%–100%: DKK 650.00/L. Beverage packaging duty adds DKK 1.40 (≤0.25 L) or DKK 2.90 (>0.25 L) per bottle plus deposit fees. Private freight imports incur a 50% supplementary duty on top of the import duty.

0% VAT (Greenland does not levy Value Added Tax or general sales tax). Taxation of spirits is handled almost entirely via the high specific import duty (indførselsafgift) or equivalent domestic production excise duty.

No state retail monopoly; retail sales are conducted by licensed commercial supermarket chains (Pisiffik, Brugseni, Pilersuisoq) and private stores. Municipalities (Kommunalbestyrelser) issue retail licenses. Off-premise retail hours are strictly limited: Monday–Friday 09:00–18:00, Saturday 10:00–14:00; sales are prohibited on Sundays and public holidays. Spirits in stores must be physically shielded/separated from non-alcoholic items. Licensed on-premise venues may serve Mon–Thu & Sun 12:00–24:00, Fri–Sat 12:00–03:00 (closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).

restricted

Must comply with Greenlandic/Danish consumer protection and food labeling regulations (Danish or Greenlandic language required for mandatory declarations, list of ingredients where applicable, and ABV percentage). Container must feature approved barcodes registered with the return deposit system. Health warning labels and packaging restrictions apply under public health guidelines.

Banned. Section 27 of Inatsisartutlov nr. 35 af 23. november 2017 imposes a complete ban on advertising, commercial signage, display promotion, and marketing for alcoholic beverages over 2.25% ABV across all media, including digital and internet channels. Factual display of trademarks on products is permitted.

Greenlandic statute primarily classifies alcoholic beverages by ABV ranges for licensing and duty collection. Food composition and standards of identity for spirits (whisky, gin, vodka, rum) mirror Danish / EU food regulations in practice.

Municipal councils have the statutory authority to impose local restrictions, quota systems, or temporary alcohol bans. Several remote settlements and Eastern Greenland communities (such as Tasiilaq, Ittoqqortoormiit, and Qaanaaq) have historically enacted temporary or periodic alcohol bans or rationing.

• In 2024–2025, the Government of Greenland (Naalakkersuisut) launched a joint initiative with WHO/Europe and the Center for Public Health to formulate recommendations for an updated national alcohol policy focused on child welfare and reducing alcohol-related violence.
• Parliamentary debates in May 2026 reinforced moving toward a stricter national alcohol agreement aligning alcohol regulation with children's rights under the UN CRC.
• Updated duty-free passenger allowance and customs import regulations updated in November 2024.

Opportunities exist for premium and craft spirits brands targeting high-end hospitality and the expanding Arctic tourism sector. However, exporters face exceptionally high specific import taxes, a total ban on alcohol marketing, and complex maritime supply lines.

• Skattestyrelsen (Greenland Tax Agency)
• Departementet for Sundhed (Ministry of Health)
• Kommunerne (Greenland Municipal Authorities)

1. Inatsisartutlov nr. 35 af 23. november 2017 om alkohol
2. Skattestyrelsen - Grønlands Selvstyre: Import Duties & Alcohol Rates
3. Skattestyrelsen: Private Import of Beer, Wine, and Spirits
4. Greenland Travel: Customs Regulations
5. WHO Europe & Naalakkersuisut: Alcohol Policy Recommendations