Permit for selling fermented beverages

Are you opening a café, a bar or a tavern and you wish to sell fermented beverages? In this case, you must obtain a legal authorisation (“patente de boissons fermentées”) from the commune where your business is located, just as you must request one for selling spirits. Please note that this only concerns alcoholic fermented beverages, and not lacto-fermented beverages. You will also need to comply with the hospitality sector regulations, in particular those relating to morality and hygiene. This is the Opens in new windowlaw on licenced selling of fermented beverages, which is similar to the one on licensed selling of spirits, which does not have an equivalent at commune level.  

The procedure

In order to obtain the fermented beverages permit, you must apply to the commune via a specific form. The documents required are essentially those required for the management of a hospitality business (Horeca). This authorisation is only valid for a specific establishment at a given address and is subject to taxation. 

In most cases, the procedure is similar to the one for the spirits permit. 

Documents you will need to provide

Depending on the commune, you must provide the following documents: 

- copy of the ID card of the person(s) making the request 

- extract from the criminal record of the owner, active partners and any employees for regulated professional activity n°596.1-8 « licensed selling of fermented beverages and/or spirits » 

- certificates of conformity of the hospitality establishment which cover insurance, fire hazards, and where applicable, the sale of food products.