Alcohol Tax in Singapore - The Breakdown

Alcohol in Singapore doesn’t come cheap — this much we already knew. But did you know that Singapore currently ranks as the 3rd most expensive city in the world to purchase beer?

According to GoEuro’s 2016 Beer Price Index, one beer alone will cost you an estimate of US$5.75 in Singapore. Falling just behind Hong Kong and Lausanne, Switzerland, Singapore’s beers weigh hefty on our wallets. Want to know exactly why our alcohol is so ridiculously expensive? Well, let us break it down for you.

The Hassle of Alcohol Import 

Alcohol Import Permit

In order to import alcohol from overseas, one must obtain a permit. According to the Regulation of Import and Export regulations, this can cost up to $100. Moreover, the permit fee does not include other miscellaneous fees and rates such as service fees, application fees, and more. For more information on the breakdown of such costs, visit the link here.

After getting the proper permits and licensing requirements, the next step is to find a supplier which you can import alcohol from. 

Exercise Duty Rate for Beers and Wines

Getting the alcohol past customs is not that simple, however, as these goods are also subjected to taxes and duties payable.

Based on Singapore’s customs website, the excise duty rate varies for beer and wine. The beer excise tax is $60 per litre while other spirits carry a wine excise tax of $88 per litre. Regardless of the ABV, alcoholic strength or type of alcohol, these duties and taxes remain the same.

Additionally, all imported goods are subjected to a goods and services tax (GST) of 7%. This GST also applies to imported alcohol, adding more costs for importers. And that’s just the tax part.

Storage and Delivery of Alcohol

Once the alcohol is successfully imported, importers will have to find a place to store the alcohol. This means scouring for licensed bonded warehouses or third-party logistics to assist with the storage and delivery.

All in all, the process isn’t easy and it is definitely not cheap. It’s no wonder people turn to duty-free alcohol for decent prices!

The Liquor Control Act

There are other reasons as to why alcohol can get so expensive in Singapore as well. Due to the Liquor Control Act that was introduced in 2015, the sale and consumption of alcohol was banned in public places after 10:30pm. 

The Case of Alcohol Monopoly; Steep Cost, Steep Price

Only licensed bars, clubs and restaurants are allowed to serve them after the indicated time, resulting in a temporary monopoly. As a result, these bars and clubs often have to pay a high premium on their rent in order to sell alcohol after the permitted time. Such costs are most likely passed down to consumers via the sale of said alcohol, resulting in the steep prices you see in Singapore.

Be Tax Savvy

Buying alcohol in Singapore doesn’t necessarily need you to break your bank. Importation taxes and fees might make it tough to get a good bottle of wine at a favourable deal, but the best suppliers know how to keep the prices low.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Great Deals

At Cellarbration, we are always working to keep the best promotions on our site going. We offer a wide selection of alcohol products at great discounts. Below are some deals that you can check out!

Wine

Looking for wines? Rawson’s Retreat Private Release Shiraz Cabernet 2018 is going for $17 (usual price $32) on our website. Alternatively, if you prefer white wine, we have Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc at an insanely cheap price of $39! (usual price $68). 

Spirits

If you’re not looking for wines, there are amazing deals for other spirits on our website as well. We have 1 litre deals going for a wide range of spirits, from Bombay Sapphire Gin to Johnnie Walker whiskies. With a wide range of spirits in stock and going at reasonable prices, you’re bound to find a bottle that suits your palate on Cellarbration.

Have More, for Less

We know that when it comes to booze, more is more and less is a bore. We also understand that drinking should be easy and chill without fuzz. That is why providing variety and affordability of premium alcohol is at the heart of what we do.

Before you leave, here is another great deal for you. At Cellarbration, we provide free alcohol delivery for all you good people who purchase anything that adds up to $99 or more. Kudos to you for visiting this page. We celebrate that you’ll leave here gaining ample tax knowledge and all your alcohol desires be it beers, whisky, wine & spirits or cocktails with great prices and less hassle.