Liquor retail license: A detailed guide from A-Z

Article overview

A liquor retail license is a license issued by a competent state agency to a trader to conduct alcohol retail activities. The alcohol business is strictly controlled by law, therefore, customers need to clearly understand the conditions, documents, and procedures to apply for an alcohol retail license. The article below will provide detailed instructions on alcohol retail licenses, including conditions, necessary procedures, licensing fees, as well as common difficulties.

Liquor retail license
Liquor retail license

Conditions for issuance of liquor retail licenses

To be granted a liquor retail license, the following conditions must be met:

  • Being an enterprise, cooperative, cooperative union or business household established in accordance with the law.
  • Have the right to legally use a fixed business location with a clear address.
  • There is a written introduction or principle contract of a wine producer, wine distributor or wine wholesaler.

Procedures for granting alcohol retail licenses

Documentation application

To apply for an alcohol retail license, it is necessary to prepare a complete and valid set of documents as prescribed in Article 23 of Decree 105/2017/ND-CP, including:

  • Application for a Liquor Retail License according to Form No. 01 issued with this Decree.
  • Copy of Certificate of registration of enterprise, cooperative, cooperative union or business household.
  • Copy of lease/loan contract or documents proving the legal right to use the proposed premises as a retail location.
  • Copy of the introductory document or principle contract of the wine producer, wine distributor or wine wholesaler.

Process and procedures for applying for a license

Pursuant to Article 25 of Decree 105/2017/ND-CP, amended and supplemented by Decree No. 17/2020/ND-CP, applying for an alcohol retail license is carried out in the following order:

Step 1: Submit application

Submit 01 set of documents to the Economic Department or Economic and Infrastructure Department of the district People’s Committee where alcohol is retailed in the area through one of the following methods:

  • Direct;
  • By mail;
  • Online (if eligibility applies).

Step 2: Check documents and issue license

  • Within 10 working days from the date of receiving a complete and valid dossier, the competent state agency will review, appraise and issue a license to the trader. In case of refusal, a written response must be made clearly stating the reason.
  • In case there are not enough valid documents, within 03 working days from the date of receiving the documents, the licensing agency must issue a written request for supplementation.

Liquor retail license fee

Pursuant to Circular 168/2016/TT-BTC, fees for alcohol retail licenses include:

Object Fee type Fee level
City and town areas Other area
Organizations, businesses Appraisal fee 1.2 million VND/time/business location 600,000 VND/time/business location
Certification fee 200,000 VND/time/paper 100,000 VND/time/paper
Business households and individuals Appraisal fee 400,000 VND/time/business location 200,000 VND/time/business location
Certification fee 200,000 VND/time/paper 100,000 VND/time/paper
How much does it cost to apply for a liquor retail license?
How much does it cost to apply for a liquor retail license?

Common difficulties and solutions when applying for a liquor retail license

During the process of applying for a liquor retail license, customers may encounter some difficulties such as:

  • Not clearly understanding the regulations on licensing conditions, documents, and licensing procedures.
  • Having difficulty proving the origin of wine.
  • Documents were requested to be supplemented many times due to omissions or invalidity.
  • Licensing period is extended.

To overcome these difficulties, customers should:

  • Read carefully the legal regulations on conditions, documents, and procedures for applying for a liquor retail license.
  • Choose a reputable wine supplier with complete documents proving origin.
  • Prepare complete and accurate documents according to regulations. Customers should carefully check their documents before submitting to avoid being asked to supplement multiple times.
  • Monitor application processing progress and contact competent authorities for support when necessary.

>>> Reference: How much is the fine for not having a retail liquor license?

Consulting services and guidance on applying for a liquor retail license from A to Z

If you have difficulty applying for a liquor retail license, you can use Long Phan’s consulting and guidance services. Our Services include:

  • Consulting on conditions for licensing alcohol retail;
  • Consulting with competent authorities to issue alcohol retail licenses;
  • Consulting and drafting license application documents;
  • Instructions on the order and procedures for applying for a liquor retail license;
  • Representing customers to apply for a liquor retail license;
  • Consulting and guidance on explaining and supplementing documents (if any);
  • Consulting and answering other issues related to alcohol retail licenses.
Consulting on professional alcohol retail licensing
Consulting on professional alcohol retail licensing

Applying for a liquor retail license is a mandatory procedure for traders who want to legally sell alcohol. Customers need to carefully study the legal regulations and prepare complete and accurate documents so that the licensing process goes smoothly. If you need assistance with applying for a liquor retail license, please contact us via the hotline: 0906735386 for detailed advice.