Do you need a license to sell wine in Belgium?
Quick answer
No, selling wine (and beer) in Belgium does not require a specific alcohol licence. Only the sale of spirits (> 22 % ABV) requires a municipal permit (patente). However, an excise number is mandatory for any business trading in alcoholic beverages.
Detailed answer
Belgian regulations on alcohol sales are more relaxed than in many countries. Here is the precise legal framework.
For wine and beer (fermented beverages), no specific licence is required in Belgium. Any business registered with the CBE can sell them, whether in a physical shop or online. This is a notable difference from France (licence II/III/IV) or Anglo-Saxon countries.
For spirits (distilled beverages > 22 % ABV), a municipal permit (patente) is needed. This authorisation is issued by the municipal administration and can be refused on public order grounds. The law of 28 December 1983 on spirit retail permits remains the reference text.
Registration with Customs and Excise (SPF Finances) is mandatory for any operator buying, selling, storing, or transporting alcoholic beverages. This generates an excise number (authorised warehouse keeper or registered operator number).
Tax obligations: VAT on wine in Belgium is 21 %. Excise duties on still wines are 74.9082 EUR/hl and 256.3223 EUR/hl for sparkling wines (2026 rates).
The ban on selling to minors (< 18) is strict. The law of 24 January 1977 prohibits selling and serving alcohol to under-16s (beer and wine) and under-18s (spirits). Since 2024, parliamentary discussions aim to unify the minimum age to 18 for all alcoholic beverages.