2. Product Categories

Beers and RTDs
Hong Kong

This section provides the regulatory definition of the food category in scope, or the appropriate food category for the product in scope. Additionally, it provides the food products that belong to this food category along with the definition and specific information on each of these types of food products.

2.1 Category Name & Definition

General Food

Please contact our team for more information.

Category Name

Alcoholic Drinks [1]

Dutiable Commodities - Liquors – Beer (啤酒)

Definition

Dutiable Commodities: liquors, tobacco (except smokeless tobacco and alternative smoking products), certain hydrocarbon oils, and methyl alcohol.

Liquor (酒類), 'alcoholic liquor' (飲用酒類), 'spirituous liquor' (烈酒) or 'spirit' ( 酒精 ): any liquid which contains more than 1.2% of ethyl alcohol by volume except— (a) Denatured spirits; (b) any such liquid that is an ingredient in any goods, if that liquid cannot be converted to pure ethyl alcohol or to an intoxicating liquor or if such a conversion would not be economical. 

'Intoxicating liquors' (令人醺醉的酒類): includes spirits, liqueurs, wines, beer, and all other liquors fit or intended for use as a beverage. 

2.2 Product & Definition

1) Beer

Definition

Beer (啤酒) includes ale, porter, stout, spruce beer, black beer, and any other kind of beer and extends to any liquor made or sold as beer or as a substitute for beer.

Specifications/Target Age

Sale or supply of alcohol / intoxicating liquor to minors (aged below 18) in the course of business is prohibited. The maximum fine for selling or supplying intoxicating liquor to a minor, or selling intoxicating liquor via vending machines, is HK$50,000 on summary conviction. Those who obstruct inspectors during enforcement are liable to a maximum fine of HK$10,000 on summary conviction [2].

2) Ready-to-drink beverages (mainly Chuhai)

Definition

There is no legal definition of a ready-to-drink alcoholic beverage or Chuhai; it falls into the definition of Liquor (see Section 2.1 above) and the target age described above for beer applies.

2.3 References

1. Cap. 109 Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (elegislation.gov.hk)

https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap109

2. General Guidelines on the Prohibition of Sale or Supply of Intoxicating Liquor to Minors in the Course of Business

https://www.taco.gov.hk/a/english/downloads/files/AlcoholControlGuidelines_eng.pdf