Liquor licence in Trinidad: types, costs and requirements

To sell alcohol in Trinidad and Tobago you need a licence under the Liquor Licences Act, Chap. 84:10. Which one depends on what you sell and where it is drunk. Since 1 January 2026, a spirit retailer's licence costs TT$9,000 a year, and an occasional licence for a one-off event costs TT$450.

This guide covers the licence types, current fees, the application and renewal process, and what you need if you are hosting an event with a bar.

Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements can change and committees have discretion. For your situation, speak to the Excise Branch of the Customs and Excise Division, the Clerk of the Magistrates' Court in your district, or an attorney.

Who needs a liquor licence in Trinidad?

The Ministry of Finance says all persons or businesses wishing to sell intoxicating liquor (beer, rum, wine and other spirits) must obtain a liquor licence. The key word is sell. Bars, restaurants, liquor stores, supermarkets with a liquor section, hotels and anyone selling drinks at a public event all need to be covered.

At the time of writing, alcohol may only be sold to people aged 18 and over. Parliament passed a bill in October 2026 to raise that to 21. It becomes law when proclaimed, and the government has said it will not take effect until 2027. People aged 18 to 20 will still be allowed to handle and sell alcohol as part of lawful employment.

The ten types of liquor licence and what they cost

The Finance Act, 2025 replaced the fee schedule in the Act. The new duties came into force on 1 January 2026:

Before 2026, a spirit retailer's licence in Port of Spain or San Fernando was TT$4,500 a year, so the new duties roughly doubled many licences. The occasional licence fee stayed at TT$450.

Liquor licence requirements: what to submit

According to the Ministry of Finance, you apply to the Secretary of the Liquor Licensing Committee at the Magistrates' Court in the county where the premises are. The Secretary is usually the Clerk of the Magistrates' Court. You need:

• Liquor licence application forms, filled out in triplicate
• Your BIR (Board of Inland Revenue) file number
• A floor plan of the premises to be licensed
• A valid Police Certificate of Character for the owner or applicant
• Town and Country building approval for the premises and the use
• A Fire Service report on the premises
• A health report on the premises
• The TT$40 application fee

How the application process works

1. Submit your documents and fee. Under the Act, a new application must be made at least 21 days before the licensing session.
2. Public notice. A notice with your name, occupation, address and the exact location of the premises is published in the daily newspapers and the Gazette, with the date of the licensing session.
3. Licensing session. You attend, and so can anyone who wants to object. Either side can be represented by an attorney.
4. Excise inspection. An Excise officer visits to check the premises meet the requirements of the Excise Act and reports to the committee.
5. Committee visit. A representative of the Licensing Committee visits to confirm the Excise report. You tell them a suitable time.
6. Pay the duty for your licence type and collect the licence.

The Act says licensing sessions are held four times a year, and notice of each session is published at least 28 days ahead. The Minister can direct a special session for a fee of TT$150 per application.

Can I apply for a liquor licence online?

The Ministry of Finance guidance describes submitting paper forms in triplicate to the Magistrates' Court, and we could not find an official online application route at the time of writing. Call the Excise Branch in Port of Spain on (868) 625-3311 ext. 5076 to check before you go.

Renewal of a liquor licence in Trinidad

Every licence expires on 31 March, whatever date it was issued. Renewals are granted at the licensing sessions, and objections can be raised there too, so treat a renewal as more than paperwork. Keep your premises, fire and health approvals current, and pay the duty on time so the new licence runs on from the old one.

Event bars, occasional licences and "mobile bar laws"

There is no separate "mobile bar licence" among the ten types. Selling drinks at an event is normally done through an occasional licence under section 44 of the Act:

• A licensed retailer of spirits, or of wine and beer, can apply to the Licensing Committee for an occasional licence to trade at a public entertainment, festivity or meeting.
• The police officer in charge of the division must get notice, and can object.
• It covers only that occasion, and only the hours and days the committee allows.
• An association holding its own event can get an occasional licence with a police certificate of approval. If it is not a licensed seller, it must buy its liquor from a licensed retailer no earlier than the day of the event, return unsold stock within 48 hours, and file an account within three days. Breaking these conditions carries a TT$3,000 penalty.

The Act also has a special event licence for booths at events the President declares by order, with the Clerk of the Peace as the licensing authority.

What this means if you are hosting

• Cash bar or ticketed drinks: guests are paying, so the sale must be covered by a licence. Ask your venue or bar provider who holds it.
• Venue with its own licence: many hotels and halls are licensed, and may have rules about outside drinks.
• Free open bar at a private function: you are not selling, but check with your venue and the Licensing Committee if you are unsure.

Tip: Start early. Allow time for the 21-day notice and for police notice on an occasional licence, especially in Christmas and Carnival season.

We run the bar, the team and everything around it. Our guide to bar service costs explains how that is priced, and our post on open bar, cash bar or consignment helps you choose a format.

Next steps

Planning an event? Tell us the date, venue and guest count and request a quote. We will reply within 24 hours and talk through which bar format fits your venue.