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Selling beer, wine and spirits in Singapore

In Singapore, supplying liquor needs a licence from the Singapore Police Force under the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015. Imported liquor pays customs and excise duty per litre of alcohol. Liquor is food under the Food Regulations, labelled in English, though it needs no ingredients list, and is imported as processed food under SFA.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Supply
Liquor licence from the Singapore Police Force
Liquor means
A beverage with more than 0.5% ethanol
Duty
Customs and excise duty, charged per litre of alcohol
Labelling
Food Regulations, in English; no ingredients list needed
Online sales
Not to anyone younger than 18

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Does the business supplying it hold a liquor licence? Read more
  2. 2How much customs and excise duty is payable on import? Read more
  3. 3How does it come in under SFA, and does it need a lab report? Read more
  4. 4What does the English label have to show? Read more
  5. 5Is it sold online, and how is age handled? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Liquor licensing and online sale

Who may supply liquor, and the rules for supplying it online.

  • A liquor licence is needed to supply any liquor, unless exempted under section 4(2) of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015.
  • Liquor means a beverage, or a mixture of ethanol and another substance, containing more than 0.5% ethanol by mass or volume.
  • Supplying liquor without a licence carries a fine of up to $20,000, and for repeat offenders up to three months' imprisonment as well.
  • Applications are made through GoBusiness; licences can be renewed within two months before expiry.
  • Licensees must not supply liquor to anyone younger than 18 online or through a telecommunication service, and must warn buyers that underage purchase is an offence.
  • Electronic commerce platforms that let a person buy and pay for liquor online and confirm a delivery address need a licence to supply liquor.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the liquor licence on record with its renewal date in view, and the age-check wording used on each sales channel. Ask about this

Customs and excise duty

The duty charged on liquor imported into or made in Singapore.

  • Customs duty is levied on imported goods; excise duty on goods made in, or imported into, Singapore.
  • Intoxicating liquors are dutiable goods.
  • For liquor charged per litre of alcohol, duty is the total quantity in litres times the customs and excise duty rates times the alcoholic strength.
  • Singapore Customs publishes the rates in its list of dutiable goods.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the strength, volume and invoice behind each consignment with the product, so the duty basis is on record. Ask about this

Import under SFA

Liquor as processed food at the border.

  • Wine is listed by SFA as processed food; importers need SFA's registration for processed food and an import permit through TradeNet for each consignment.
  • Imported absinthe needs a laboratory report for each consignment showing thujone of no more than 5 ppm (up to 25% alcohol) or 10 ppm (above 25%), and proof that the product is allowed for sale in its country of origin.
  • Only permitted additives may be used, and contaminants must be within the limits in the Food Regulations.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the lab reports and certificates each consignment needs, and shows what is missing before it ships. Ask about this

Labelling

What a liquor label shows under the Food Regulations.

  • Prepacked liquor carries the general label particulars in English, such as the name, net quantity, the Singapore business responsible, country of origin and lot identification.
  • Intoxicating liquors, with more than 0.5% alcohol, are not required to carry a statement of ingredients.
  • Cereals, whey and nuts used as distillates, and fish gelatine or isinglass used as fining agents in beer and wine, need not be declared.
  • Fruit wine and compounded liquor have their own labelling requirements (regulations 195 and 210).
  • Liquor is excluded from Nutri-Grade, which does not apply to alcoholic beverages.

How we help: Compliant Always sets the mandatory particulars beside your label, including any sticker label applied for Singapore. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ImporterSFA registration and permits, duty on import, and being named on the label.Certificates, invoices and strength data kept with each consignment.
Licensed retailer or online sellerHolding a liquor licence and not supplying anyone under 18.Licence and renewal date in view, with the sales-channel wording on record.
Brand ownerThe label and what it says about the product.Label checked against the particulars, with the paperwork behind it.
E-commerce platformA licence where it lets buyers pay for liquor and confirms delivery.Seller and product documents ready when the platform asks.

Questions businesses ask

Do I need a licence to sell alcohol in Singapore?
Yes. A liquor licence from the Singapore Police Force is needed to supply any liquor, unless an exemption under section 4(2) of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015 applies.
What counts as liquor in Singapore?
A beverage, or a mixture of ethanol and another substance, containing more than 0.5% ethanol by mass or volume, or any other substance prescribed as liquor.
Can I sell alcohol online in Singapore?
Yes, with a liquor licence. Liquor must not be supplied online to anyone younger than 18, and sellers must warn buyers that underage purchase is an offence and state the penalty.
How is duty on alcohol calculated?
For liquor charged per litre of alcohol: total litres times the customs and excise duty rates times the alcoholic strength. Singapore Customs lists the rates.
Does a wine label need an ingredients list in Singapore?
No. Intoxicating liquors with more than 0.5% alcohol are not required to carry a statement of ingredients, but other general label particulars still apply in English.
Do I need SFA registration to import wine?
Wine is processed food under SFA's classification, so importers need SFA's registration for processed food and a permit through TradeNet for each consignment.
Is alcohol covered by Nutri-Grade?
No. Alcoholic beverages are excluded from the definition of Nutri-Grade beverages.
What does imported absinthe need?
A laboratory report for each consignment showing thujone within 5 ppm (up to 25% alcohol) or 10 ppm (above 25%), and proof from the country of origin that it may be sold there.
What is the penalty for supplying liquor without a licence?
A fine of up to $20,000; repeat offenders face a fine of up to $20,000, imprisonment of up to three months, or both.
How does Compliant Always help with selling in Singapore?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product, keeps the documents behind each one ready, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in Singapore and what your paperwork needs to show.

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