Alcohol business registration business lines in Vietnam
From November 15, 2025, Decision 36/2025/QD-TTg officially takes effect, replacing Decision 27/2018/QD-TTg, bringing important changes to alcohol business registration business lines. Since alcohol is a conditional business line, applying the wrong business line not only causes the dossier to be rejected but also causes difficulties when applying for an alcohol business license. Are you wondering what the latest regulations for wholesale and retail alcohol business lines are? In this article, Viet An Law will update the detailed 2025 alcohol business lines, along with instructions on the latest process, conditions, and procedures for granting licenses so that enterprises can operate legally with peace of mind.
According to Decision No. 36/2025/QD-TTg, alcohol business lines can be identified in one or more of the following business lines, depending on the type of activity:
Business Line 1101 – 11010: Distilling, rectifying, and blending of spirits This group includes:
Manufacture of distilled alcoholic beverages or blending of spirits: whisky, gin, liqueurs, mixed drinks, etc.
Manufacture of drinks mixed with distilled alcoholic beverages.
Blending of distilled spirits.
Manufacture of neutral spirits.
Excludes:
Manufacture of denatured ethyl alcohol is classified in group 20114 (Manufacture of other basic organic chemicals).
Manufacture of non-distilled alcoholic beverages is classified in group 11020 (Manufacture of wines) and group 11030 (Manufacture of beer).
Bottling and labeling of alcohol is classified in group 463 (Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco), if this work is part of wholesale, and group 82920 (Packaging activities) if performed on a fee or contract basis.
Business Line 1102 -11020: Manufacture of wines This group includes:
Manufacture of wine.
Manufacture of sparkling wine.
Manufacture of wine from grape extract.
Manufacture of fermented but not distilled alcoholic beverages such as sake, cider, perry, mead, other fruit wines, and mixed alcoholic beverages.
Manufacture of vermouth and similar beverages.
Blending of wines.
Manufacture of non-alcoholic or low-alcohol wine.
Excludes:
Manufacture of vinegar is classified in group 10790 (Manufacture of other food products not elsewhere classified).
Bottling and labeling is classified in group 463 (Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco) if this work is part of wholesale, and group 82920 (Packaging activities) if performed on a fee or contract basis.
Business Line 20114: Manufacture of other basic organic chemicals This group includes:
Acyclic hydrocarbons, saturated or unsaturated.
Cyclic hydrocarbons, saturated or unsaturated.
Acyclic and cyclic alcohols.
Ethyl alcohol, except for ethanol fuel.
Mono- and polycarboxylic acids, including acetic acid.
Other oxygen-function compounds, including aldehydes, ketones, quinones, and dual or poly oxygen-function compounds.
Synthetic glycerol.
Organic-nitrogen compounds, including amines.
Fermentation of sugarcane, corn, or similar to produce alcohol and esters.
Other organic compounds.
Business Line 46331: Wholesale of alcoholic beverages This group includes:
Wholesale of spirits.
Wholesale of wine.
Wholesale of beer.
Buying wine in bulk and bottling without changing the composition of the wine.
Wine and beer containing low alcohol concentration or non-alcoholic.
Excludes: Blending of wine or distilling of spirits is classified in group 11010 (Distilling, rectifying and blending of spirits) and group 11020 (Manufacture of wines).
Business Line 4723 – 47230: Retail sale of beverages in specialized stores This group includes retail sale of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (not for immediate consumption on the premises) such as:
Retail sale of alcoholic beverages: Spirits, wine, beer.
Retail sale of non-alcoholic beverages: Soft drinks, sweetened drinks, carbonated or non-carbonated such as: Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, orange juice, lemon juice, other fruit juices…
Retail sale of vegetable juices, fruit juices.
Retail sale of natural mineral water or other bottled pure water.
Retail sale of wine and beer containing low alcohol concentration or non-alcoholic.
Excludes:
Retail sale of beverages with milk as the basic ingredient is classified in group 47224 (Retail sale of sugar, milk and milk products, bread, jam, candy and products processed from cereals, flour, starch).
Retail sale of coffee powder, tea is classified in group 47229 (Retail sale of other food products).
Mixing and selling beverages for immediate consumption on the premises is classified in industry 56 (Food and beverage service activities).
Business Line 5630 – 56301: Beverage serving activities (Pubs, bars) This group includes: Activities of pubs serving customers drinking on the premises: spirits, wine, cocktails, beer of all kinds… Excludes: Activities of providing food and drinking alcohol/beer but where food is predominant are classified in group 56101 (Restaurants, food shops, dining stalls).
Regulations on recording business lines in business registration
Record according to level 4 business line of the Economic Industry System
The economic industry system is differentiated from level 1 to level 5 corresponding to the number of digits in that business line. When choosing a business line for registration, the enterprise must register with a level 4 business line – which has 4 digits. Then record the level 5 business line or detailed explanation of the business line.
Record according to business lines prescribed in specialized documents
For business lines belonging to the list of conditional business lines (regarding legal capital, certificates, etc.), the list of business lines prohibited from business or restricted from business, in addition to the level 4 business line, must be recorded according to the industries and professions prescribed in legal documents.
Example:
No.
Industry Name
Business Line
1
Urban and suburban passenger land transport (excluding bus transport). Detail: Passenger transport business by car for tourists
4931
Alcohol business conditions
Conditions for industrial alcohol production
Being an enterprise established according to the provisions of law.
Having machinery lines, equipment, and alcohol production technology processes meeting the expected production scale.
Ensuring conditions on food safety according to regulations.
Ensuring conditions on environmental protection according to regulations.
Meeting regulations on alcohol labeling.
Having technical staff with qualifications and expertise suitable for the alcohol production profession.
Conditions for craft alcohol production for business purposes
Being an enterprise, cooperative, union of cooperatives, or household business established according to the provisions of law.
Ensuring conditions on food safety and alcohol labeling according to regulations.
Conditions for craft alcohol production to sell to enterprises with Industrial Alcohol Production Licenses for re-processing
In case of not selling alcohol to an enterprise with an Industrial Alcohol Production License, organizations and individuals producing craft alcohol must apply for a Craft Alcohol Production License for business purposes according to the regulations in this Decree.
Conditions for alcohol distribution
Being an enterprise established according to the provisions of law.
Having an alcohol distribution system in the area of 02 or more provinces/centrally run cities (including the area where the enterprise places its head office); in each province/centrally run city, there must be at least 01 alcohol wholesaler.
In case the enterprise establishes a branch or business location outside the head office to trade alcohol, confirmation from the alcohol wholesaler is not required.
Having a letter of introduction or principle contract from an alcohol producer, another alcohol distributor, or an overseas alcohol supplier.
Conditions for alcohol wholesale
Being an enterprise established according to the provisions of law.
Having an alcohol wholesale system in the province/centrally run city where the enterprise places its head office with at least 01 alcohol retailer.
In case the enterprise establishes a branch or business location outside the head office to trade alcohol, confirmation from the alcohol retailer is not required.
Having a letter of introduction or principle contract from an alcohol producer, alcohol distributor, or another alcohol wholesaler.
Conditions for alcohol retail
Being an enterprise, cooperative, union of cooperatives, or household business established according to the provisions of law.
Having lawful usage rights to a fixed business location with a clear address.
Having a letter of introduction or principle contract from an alcohol producer, alcohol distributor, or alcohol wholesaler.
Conditions for selling alcohol for on-site consumption
Being an enterprise, cooperative, union of cooperatives, or household business established according to the provisions of law.
Having lawful usage rights to a fixed business location with a clear address and registering the sale of alcohol for on-site consumption with the Economic Division or the Economic and Infrastructure Division at the district level where the trader places the business establishment.
Alcohol for on-site consumption must be supplied by a trader with a license for production, distribution, wholesale, or retail of alcohol.
In case the trader self-produces alcohol to sell for on-site consumption, they must have an Industrial Alcohol Production License or a Craft Alcohol Production License for business purposes according to the regulations in this Decree.
Conditions for production of alcohol with alcohol content under 5.5 degrees
Enterprise, cooperative, union of cooperatives, or household business established according to the provisions of law.
Complying with legal regulations on food safety.
Registering with the Economic Division or the Economic and Infrastructure Division under the District People’s Committee where the trader places the production establishment according to Form No. 14 Section II in the Appendix issued with this Decree.
In case of changing registered content, supplementary registration must be performed.
Conditions for importing alcohol with alcohol content under 5.5 degrees
Alcohol may only be imported into Vietnam through international border gates.
Registering with the Economic Division or the Economic and Infrastructure Division under the District People’s Committee where the trader places the head office before conducting business activities according to Form No. 14 Section II in the Appendix issued with this Decree.
In case of changing registered content, supplementary registration must be performed.
Conditions for selling alcohol with alcohol content under 5.5 degrees
Registering with the Economic Division or the Economic and Infrastructure Division under the District People’s Committee where the trader places the business establishment before conducting business activities according to Form No. 14 Section II in the Appendix issued with this Decree.
In case of changing registered content, supplementary registration must be performed.
Application for Alcohol Business License (standard form).
Copy of Enterprise Registration Certificate.
Contract or principle agreement with partners (wholesale, distribution, or producer).
Dossier on business location (Certificate of land use rights, location lease contract, Fire prevention and fighting…).
List of trading alcohol, origin of goods.
Documents proving distribution capacity or physical facilities (if any).
Licensing Authority
Provincial People’s Committee: Grants Industrial Alcohol Production Licenses with a scale of 03 million liters/year or more and Alcohol Distribution Licenses.
Department of Industry and Trade: Grants Industrial Alcohol Production Licenses with a scale of under 03 million liters/year and Alcohol Wholesale Licenses in the province/centrally run city.
Commune People’s Committee: Grants Craft Alcohol Production Licenses for business purposes, Alcohol Retail Licenses in the area.
Some notes when trading alcohol
Do not trade alcohol of unknown origin or self-brewed alcohol without a license.
Advertising and promotion of alcohol with an alcohol content of over 15 degrees is restricted under the Law on Advertising.
Enterprises must declare and pay special consumption tax according to regulations (for alcohol production and import).
Household businesses, restaurants, and hotels selling alcohol must also apply for an alcohol retail license.
Alcohol business registration support services
Consulting on business lines suitable for the type of business.
Drafting enterprise registration dossiers and submitting them to the Business Registration Office.
Drafting dossiers for applying for Alcohol Business Licenses at the Ministry/Department of Industry and Trade.
Supporting declaration of special consumption tax, product announcement, trademark registration.
Representing customers to work with state agencies until the license is granted.
Customers interested in alcohol business registration services, please contact Viet An Law Firm directly for detailed advice.
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