Non-Alcoholic Beer Rules in Bhutan
Since 1 January 2026, Bhutan's Excise Tax Act treats a drink as intoxicating liquor only if it contains more than 0.5% alcohol by volume, or by mass. The same Act still lists non-alcoholic beer as an excisable good taxed at 50%, and the Customs Duty Act charges 50% duty on it.
Checked on 2 October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice: laws change, so confirm with the regulator before you rely on a rule.
The rules in Bhutan at a glance
- At what alcohol level does a drink count as alcoholic in Bhutan?
- More than 0.5% ABV is intoxicating liquor, since 1 January 2026.
- What may a label call a non-alcoholic beer in Bhutan?
- Non-alcoholic beer has its own tax line and is still taxed as an excisable good.
- Who may sell or buy non-alcoholic beer in Bhutan?
- Non-alcoholic beer carries 50% excise tax and 50% customs duty.
The detail, with sources
Elsewhere in South Asia
India's food regulations count a drink as alcoholic above 0.5% alcohol by volume, and Bhutan's tax law uses the same line, while Sri Lanka's alcohol law starts at 1%. Pakistan's prohibition law sets no percentage at all. We have not included Nepal yet, because we could not read its laws.
| Country or territory | A drink counts as alcoholic from |
|---|---|
| India | More than 0.5% ABV is an "alcoholic beverage" under the FSSAI regulations. |
| Sri Lanka | 1% or more is an "alcohol product" under the NATA Act. The Excise Ordinance defines liquor to include any liquid containing alcohol, with no percentage. |
| Bangladesh | Liquids with more than 0.5% alcohol are controlled substances, and beer means a brewed drink with not less than 0.5%. |
| Pakistan | No percentage. "Intoxicating liquor" includes beer and all liquids containing alcohol normally used for intoxication. |
| Maldives | No published percentage found. Bringing in liquor needs a licence. |
Across the whole region
- All 27 countries and territories in one table
- What halal authorities have published
- What regulators say about drink-driving laws and non-alcoholic beer
- The same rows as JSON or CSV, free to reuse with credit
If a rule for Bhutan has changed, or a source no longer says what we say it does, write to getsoma.store@gmail.com and we will correct it.
Who publishes this page
SOMA is a non-alcoholic craft beer brand founded in Bangalore, India, and its beers are under 0.5% ABV. Our first deliveries will be in Bangalore, and we do not ship outside India. We keep these pages because the rules on non-alcoholic beer differ a great deal between countries, and many pages online state them without a source.
To learn how non-alcoholic beer is made and what is in it, read Non-Alcoholic Beer 101.