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Attorney. Specialist in commercial and labor law. Over 16 years of experience in legal support of businesses - debt recovery, contract enforcement, recovery of damages, commercial property and lease disputes.
Alcohol license
Today, almost every professional economic activity in the food industry requires a license. The Law of Ukraine “On Licensing of Types of Economic Activities” stipulates the obligation of citizens to obtain a permit, including for the production and trade of alcoholic beverages.
When is it necessary to obtain a license for alcohol?
The main types of alcohol activities that require a license are detailed in the Law of Ukraine 3817-IX of June 18, 2024 and are as follows:
- production of alcoholic beverages (including distillates);
- wholesale trade in alcohol (to restaurant businesses or food sales centers);
- retail trade in alcohol (offering to end consumers through shops, supermarkets, cafes, bars, restaurants, etc.);
- import and export operations of alcoholic beverages. Each type of activity requires a separate alcohol license and compliance with the relevant license conditions.
Who can obtain an alcohol license (sale and production)?
To obtain a license, a citizen must register as a business entity (individual entrepreneur or legal entity), register with tax authorities, and also:
- register the relevant KVEDs (46.34, 46.39 – wholesale trade; 47.25, 47.11, 56.30 – retail trade in various establishments; 11.0, 11.02, 11.05 – production of various alcoholic beverages);
- produce beverages that will be considered alcoholic in accordance with current national legislation.
In particular, alcoholic beverages are those that:
- are obtained by alcoholic fermentation of agricultural products, based on ethyl alcohol and/or alcohol distillate, and/or other alcoholic beverage;
- correspond to commodity headings according to the Ukrainian Classification of Economic Activities, in particular: 2203 (malt beer); 2204 (natural grape wines); 2205 (vermouths); 2206 (other fermented beverages, mixtures of fermented beverages); 2208 (spirits and spirits); 2103 90 30 00 (sauces) and 2106 90 (other food preparations), if the ethyl alcohol content is 8.5% or more.
Certain types of alcohol licenses
License for retail and wholesale trade in alcohol
A citizen can obtain this type of license if he plans the following activities: trade in cider and perry (they can sell only these alcoholic beverages if they obtain the appropriate permit); trade in beverages, except for grape wines, fruit and berry wines, and honey beverages from their own raw materials (if they are also engaged in their production); trade and production of wine products, in particular wines/drinks without added alcohol from purchased raw materials of exclusively Ukrainian origin; online trade in alcohol via the Internet.
It is worth noting that a license for retail trade in alcohol is issued for each individual point of sale (kiosk, bar, etc.). In this case, the premises must comply with clearly established norms and standards expressed in the Law of Ukraine 3817-IX of June 18, 2024: area of more than 20 sq. meters; equipment with security and fire alarms; adequate lighting, heating, and ventilation; located away from kindergartens, educational institutions, hospitals and other health care institutions, etc.
License for the production of alcoholic beverages
Such a permit can be obtained by companies and sole proprietors that:
- provide a full technological cycle, including independent performance of technological operations necessary for the manufacture of products;
- have their own or rented production facilities and equipment that meet sanitary and other established safety standards;
- have qualified personnel on staff who have experience in the field of alcohol production.
Procedure for obtaining a license for alcohol
Where do I need to apply to obtain a license?
Obtaining a license involves applying to the State Tax Service (State Tax Service) by sending a registered letter with all necessary documentation to the address of the competent authority or submitting an application through “Diya”.
What documents are required to obtain an alcohol license?
Depending on the type of such permit, the following list of documentation will need to be submitted to the State Tax Service:
- first, an application for a license of any form;
- secondly, copies of the company’s constituent documents (Charter, Extract from the Unified State Register, etc.);
- thirdly, a production certificate (for large-scale production) or a registered declaration of compliance of the material and technical base with the requirements of the legislation (for small distillate production);
- fourthly, a document confirming the payment of the annual license fee, etc.
Consequences of conducting alcohol activities without obtaining a license
Activities with alcohol without licensing entail serious negative consequences stipulated by administrative and criminal legislation. Thus, according to the Code of Administrative Offenses and Administrative Offenses, this entails a fine of 17,000 hryvnias with confiscation of products and equipment, and according to the Criminal Code of Ukraine – imprisonment for a term of up to five years. Moreover, additional liability is provided for under the Law of Ukraine 3817-IX: imposition of a fine for the production of alcohol without a license in the amount of more than 15 minimum wages (as of April 2025 – 120,000 hryvnias).
Thus, licensing is a mandatory condition for carrying out professional economic activity in the field of production and circulation of alcoholic beverages. To obtain a license, a business entity must register, register with tax authorities, select the appropriate KVEDs and meet legislative requirements for production, premises, and personnel. Conducting activities without a license entails serious legal consequences.
Contacting the lawyers of Prikhodko & Partners to support the acquisition of an alcohol license is a key start to running a legal and successful business. Don’t interfere: fill out the form below, get professional legal advice and find out the price of legal support for obtaining a license!
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