Myanmar tightens requirements relating to businesses in alcohol industry

27 March 2026

The new Myanmar Excise Law (Law No. 13/2026), enacted on 7 March 2026, will significantly tighten requirements regarding participation in the country’s alcohol industry once it comes into force. Key changes include strict prohibitions on advertising, sales to minors, and online sales, as well as stringent new licensing, manufacturing, and transportation permit requirements. 

The new law defines “excise” to cover alcoholic liquor and excisable articles. Alcoholic liquor is broadly defined as any liquid containing more than 0.5% ethyl alcohol, including beer, wine, toddy sap, fermented liquor, and any other liquid declared as alcohol by notification of the relevant ministry, excluding denatured alcohol. Alcoholic liquor is further categorised into country liquor, foreign liquor, and international‑standard domestically produced liquor.

The law also introduces a more detailed licensing regime, with liquor excise licences available for production, production of value-added products, bottling, distribution, sales, and other excise-related businesses designated by General Administrative Department notification. Such licences are available to Myanmar citizens and companies registered in Myanmar under the Myanmar Companies Law, including Myanmar-owned companies, foreign companies with foreign shareholding of up to 49%, wholly Myanmar-owned entities, business organisations formed by Myanmar citizens, and joint venture organisations.

All licences require annual renewal. In addition to excise licences, the law also introduces several permit requirements.