Non-Alcoholic Beer Rules in Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act defines an alcohol product as a beverage containing 1% alcohol or more, and bans selling such products to anyone under 21. The same Act bans selling any other article that carries the trade mark, logo or brand name of an alcohol product.
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 Sri Lanka at a glance
- At what alcohol level does a drink count as alcoholic in 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.
- What may a label call a non-alcoholic beer in Sri Lanka?
- No food-standard term found. Customs has a line for non-alcoholic beer.
- Who may sell or buy non-alcoholic beer in Sri Lanka?
- No sale of alcohol products (1% or more) to anyone under 21. Alcohol brands may not appear on other goods.
The detail, with sources
Sri Lanka's Excise Ordinance defines liquor to include beer and "all liquid consisting of or containing alcohol", without a minimum percentage. Customs guidance says non-alcoholic beer needs food inspection but not the Excise Department's import approval.
- Primary source: National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act, No. 27 of 2006, sections 31, 38 and 45 (government print)
- Primary source: Sri Lanka Customs, National Imports Tariff Guide 2025, preamble (Chapter 22 approvals)
- Secondary source: Excise Ordinance No. 8 of 1912, section 2 (unofficial consolidation to 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 Sri Lanka 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.