Head of practice
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.
Tobacco and alcohol retail license
Who can obtain a license for retail trade in tobacco and alcohol?
A license for retail trade in tobacco and alcohol is an official document that gives the right to a business entity to engage in the official sale of the specified excisable goods on the territory of Ukraine. The specified license guarantees that the entity meets the established requirements for storage, sale, and quality of products. The right to obtain such a permit document is granted to:
- legal entities and individual entrepreneurs, taxpayers on the general taxation system;
- individual entrepreneurs on the simplified system of groups II and III (for trade in beer and cider).

It is worth emphasizing that retail trade in ethyl alcohol and alcohol distillates (if such activity is carried out by a business entity) is prohibited, with the exception of its sale in pharmacies in bottles of no more than 0.1 liters.
The Licensing Rules for 2025 also provide for other requirements for applicants. First, the business entity must have electronic identification in accordance with the requirements of the legislation. Second, a RRO, PRRO must be registered at each point of sale. Third, the selected taxation system and KVED must correspond to the activity of retail trade in the specified goods. You can obtain a license by submitting a document to the main department of the State Registration Service of Ukraine at the place of trading.
Procedure for obtaining a license for retail sale of tobacco and alcohol
The procedure for obtaining a permit is step-by-step and involves the following steps:
- first, selection, and preparation of premises. The area at the point of sale must be at least 20 sq. meters (for alcoholic beverages, except beer). If a person plans to sell exclusively tobacco, then such restrictions are not provided. Moreover, the premises must comply with sanitary and fire safety standards, as well as requirements for occupational safety;
- second, registration of documents. After selecting a premises, it is necessary to register the following documentation: notification of objects of taxation, registrars of settlement operations (RRO) or program registrars (PRRO), an application, copies of documents confirming the right of ownership or use of the premises, a payment order for payment of the state fee for issuing a license and other documents at the request of the licensing authority;
- third, submission of documents to the state body. After preparing all the necessary documents, they must be submitted to the territorial authority of the State Tax Service and all necessary changes must be made at its request (if any).
A business entity that has received a license is obliged to comply with the requirements of the legislation on the production and circulation of tobacco and alcohol products in the future, systematically renewing the validity of the specified permit. For more detailed information on preparing for obtaining a permit for retail trade in tobacco and alcohol, you can be consulted by specialized lawyer of the company "Prikhodko & Partners".
Legal support for obtaining a license for retail trade in tobacco and alcohol
Obtaining a license for retail trade in tobacco and alcohol in Ukraine can cause certain difficulties for novice entrepreneurs. That is why legal support is the key to quickly obtaining the appropriate permit. The lawyers of the company “Prikhodko & Partners” will provide you with comprehensive legal support at all stages of obtaining a license, namely:
- consultations and legal analysis of legislation, licensing requirements, providing individual recommendations on the preparation of necessary documents;
- preparation of documentation for submission to the licensing authority;
- submission of documents to the State Tax Service and further representation of your interests, providing necessary explanations and additions to the already submitted list of documents (at the request of the licensing authority);
- optional services for further cooperation (appealing an unlawful refusal, developing contracts with suppliers, consulting on taxation and accounting issues, etc.).
What are the sanctions for trading tobacco and alcohol without a license?
Retail trade in tobacco and alcohol without a license in Ukraine is a serious violation of the law and entails significant fines. Administrative liability for trade without a license is provided for in Article 164 of the Code of Administrative Offenses and provides for the application to the violator of a fine of UAH 17,000 to UAH 34,000 (for the first violation). In addition, confiscation of manufactured products, production tools, raw materials and money received as a result of such trade is possible.
In addition, violation of the rules for labeling or packaging of excisable products, their storage, and sale without legal grounds and permits entails criminal liability, namely:
- a fine of up to UAH 170,000;
- imprisonment for up to 8 years;
- confiscation of products, money and other property.
Thus, today, mandatory licensing of tobacco and alcohol retail trade has been introduced for the purpose of state control over the circulation of these excisable goods. The business entity must have official registration as an entrepreneur, electronic identification, be registered with the RRO/PRRO and meet other licensing requirements established by law.
Do not hesitate and contact the lawyers of “Prikhodko & Partners” for successful obtaining of a license and reliable legal support. To find out the cost of legal support, fill out the form below.
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Is a subscriber form of service possible to quickly resolve issues as they arise?
Yes, of course, we take companies for permanent support.
The subscription form of service allows you to receive a full range of legal services on an ongoing basis for a fixed monthly fee.
Our lawyers will accompany all economic legal relations of your company: from drawing up contracts and solving corporate issues to representing interests during inspections by regulatory bodies and in court disputes.
We have very flexible pricing, so contact us and we will discuss your specific case.
Do you work only in Kyiv?
Fortunately, modern technologies allow us to effectively solve almost any legal issue online regardless of your location. In cases where personal presence is necessary, our lawyers are ready to travel to any point in Ukraine. Moreover, thanks to our network of reliable partners abroad, we can provide legal support even in international cases. Our goal is to provide you with quality legal assistance wherever you are.
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