2. Product Categories

3 Mins to read

Share
Dark
Light

Article summary

Did you find this summary helpful?

Thank you for your feedback

Beers, RTDs, Whisky
Singapore

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

Alcoholic drinks are regulated as “Intoxicating Liquor” in Singapore under the Sale of Food Act and Food Regulations, under which there are 26 products regulated under Regulations 185 to 210 of the Food Regulations. [1]

Although there is no definition for the category alcoholic drinks, alcohol refers to ethanol in the Customs Act 1960 [2], which defines the alcoholic drinks category as “Intoxicating Liquor".

* The Singapore Food Safety and Security Act (FSSA) was passed in the Singapore Parliament in January 2025. While the FSSA has not yet come into effect, it would consolidate and amend food safety legislation in Singapore, including the eventual repeal of the Sale of Food Act. The implementation of the FSSA would be in phases, with a full transition expected in 2028.

That said, the core principles of Singapore’s food safety framework remain intact. Provisions from the Sale of Food Act, including the subsidiary legislation – Food Regulations, that ensure that food in Singapore is safe and suitable for human consumption will continue to be relevant and will be incorporated into the FSSA.

Definition

Regulation 185(1) of the Food Regulations [1] states that:

Intoxicating liquor shall be a liquor of any description containing more than 0.5% (v/v) alcohol at 20°C and which is fit, or intended or can by any means be converted for use as a beverage, and includes “toddy” but does not include denatured spirit.

Similarly, Regulation 3 of the Customs Act 1960 [2] states that:

“intoxicating liquor” means —

(a) a mixture of alcohol and some other substances containing more than 0.5 percent alcohol by mass; or

(b) a mixture of alcohol and water containing more than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume, which is fit, or intended, or can by any means be converted, for use as a beverage, but does not include denatured spirit.

According to Liquid Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015 [3], “liquor” means —

(a) a beverage containing more than 0.5% ethanol by mass or volume

(b) a mixture of ethanol and some other substance or liquid (including water) and containing more than 0.5% ethanol by mass or volume; or

Note that the above categories are separate from HS code classification by Singapore Customs for the list of dutiable goods brought into Singapore, as the categorization follows ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN).

2.2 Product & Definition

1) Beer

Definition

Regulation 186 [1] defines Ale, beer, lager, porter, or stout as: “a fermented liquid containing not less than 1.0% (v/v) alcohol at 20^oC. It shall be brewed from a mash of malted or other grain and sugar or dextrose or both, with hops or other harmless vegetable bitters".

Specifications/Target Age

None.

Note : according to the Liquid Control (Supply and Consumption) (Liquor Licensing) Regulations 2015 [4], individuals must be at least 18 years to purchase or consume alcohol in Singapore.

Additional Information

None.

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

Definition

Same as "Category" (alcoholic drinks) in Section 2.1 above.

Specifications/Target Age

According to the Liquid Control (Supply and Consumption) (Liquor Licensing) Regulations 2015 [4], individuals must be at least 18 years old to purchase or consume alcohol in Singapore.

Additional Information

None.

3) Whisky

Definition

Regulation 204 [1] defines Whisky as “the alcoholic distillate obtained from a mash of cereal grain or cereal grain products matured by storage in wood to develop its characteristics, with or without the addition of caramel. Flavored whisky shall be whisky with the addition of a permitted flavoring agent. Whisky shall contain not less than 37% (v/v) alcohol at 20^oC.”

Specifications/Target Age

According to the Liquid Control (Supply and Consumption) (Liquor Licensing) Regulations 2015 [4], individuals must be at least 18 years old to purchase or consume alcohol in Singapore.

Additional Information

None.