Non-Alcoholic Beer Rules in the Maldives
The Maldives prohibits bringing in liquor and alcoholic products except under a licence, under the Import Prohibition Act, and alcohol is available only on resort islands or under a special licence. We found no published alcohol limit that separates non-alcoholic beer from alcoholic drinks. In 2019, customs officers recalled a drink sold as non-alcoholic beer after tests found 0.3% alcohol, according to a news report.
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 the Maldives at a glance
- At what alcohol level does a drink count as alcoholic in the Maldives?
- No published percentage found. Bringing in liquor needs a licence.
- What may a label call a non-alcoholic beer in the Maldives?
- None found.
- Who may sell or buy non-alcoholic beer in the Maldives?
- Alcohol is available only on resort islands or under a special licence.
The detail, with sources
- Primary source: WTO notification G/MA/QR/N/MDV/1, prohibition on bringing in liquor and alcoholic products, 30 October 2019
- Secondary source: US International Trade Administration, Maldives country commercial guide, trade barriers, 4 March 2026
- Secondary source: Maldives Independent, report of a customs recall, 29 July 2019
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. |
| Bhutan | More than 0.5% ABV is intoxicating liquor, since 1 January 2026. |
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 the Maldives 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.