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Sri-LankaAre alcohol and cigarettes sold in Sri Lanka, and what are the restrictions
Alcoholic beverages and cigarettes are not banned in Sri Lanka, but the state seriously combats their consumption by restricting sales and imposing high taxes. In some cities, the sale of alcohol is strictly prohibited or limited. This includes at least the sacred city of Kandy and the village of Dalhousie.
It's important to know that during Poya days, which coincide with the full moon, alcohol sales are completely suspended for one day as it is a sacred holiday. This happens every month according to the lunar calendar; you can easily find out the dates of the ban by searching for terms like: poya day Sri lanka.
Sri Lanka produces and sells local beverages. There is palm vodka called arrack, beer, rum, brandy, whiskey, vodka, gin. We recommend trying arrack and Calypso rum, but all other locally produced alcoholic beverages are unlikely to impress, except perhaps with their low quality given the high price.
Foreign alcohol is also freely sold, but prices are very high due to taxes. In our estimation, prices for them are 2-3 times higher than in Russia. Therefore, it makes sense to purchase them at duty-free shops at the airport or bring them from home. By the way, at Colombo Airport you can do this upon arrival after passing passport control, so you don't have to carry a bottle of spirits from your home airport. Prices at the airport "duty-free" are reasonable. They accept dollars and euros for payment, as well as UnionPay cards from RSHB.
Just keep in mind that according to customs regulations, you can import duty-free no more than two bottles of wine and one and a half liters of spirits per person (for those over 18 years old). And cigarettes cannot be imported duty-free at all. This quota includes all alcohol you bring, including that purchased at duty-free.
Also remember that you can only transport alcohol in checked baggage (except for alcohol from duty-free). In hand luggage, you can only carry alcohol from a duty-free shop if it is sealed. But don't forget about the carry-on limits according to your flight ticket's fare, which differ from customs allowances.
Generally, we advise you to familiarize yourself with Sri Lanka's customs regulations and the list of what can and cannot be imported/exported in a separate guide here.
How much does alcohol cost in Sri Lanka
Locally produced alcoholic beverages are cheaper, but also much worse in taste. In fact, the only interesting local options will be beer, arrack (coconut moonshine), and Calypso rum. Here are the minimum prices in stores for reference:
- Local Lion beer can 0.5L – from 480 rupees / 1.45 USD, )see Sri Lanka currency, exchange rate.
- Arrack 0.75L - from 3700 rupees / 11.18 USD.
- Local Calypso rum 0.75L - from 5500 rupees / 16.62 USD.
- Brandy, whiskey 0.75L - from 5000 rupees / 15.11 USD.
- Vodka 0.75L - 5000 rupees / 15.11 USD.
- Gin (local) 0.75L - from 5000 rupees / 15.11 USD.
- BeeFeater gin (foreign) 1L - from 18500 rupees / 55.9 USD.
- Cigarettes from 1800 rupees per pack / 5.44 USD.
- Gold Leaf cigarettes from 1900 rupees per pack of 12 / 5.74 USD.
- Gold Leaf cigarettes from 3200 rupees per pack of 20 / 9.67 USD.
Foreign alcohol is almost 3 times more expensive than local. In cafes and restaurants, the price is 2-3 times higher than those listed.
Here's a lifehack on how to buy alcohol cheaper in Sri Lanka. Returning empty glass bottles is encouraged here. So sometimes in a store when buying a glass bottle of soda, beer, or even spirits, they may offer you at the checkout to return an empty bottle immediately and deduct its cost from the payment. Locals actively use this and come shopping with empty bottles to return.
Where to buy alcohol and cigarettes in Sri Lanka
Alcohol can only be purchased in special stores under signs like «Wine Store», «Wine Shop», «Beer Shop», etc. There are very few such stores, usually one or two in small towns. And sometimes to buy a bottle of beer you have to go even to a neighboring city. Not even all tourist areas have such stores. They traditionally work from 9 am to 9 pm, and close on the eve of religious or official holidays. Buying cold beer can also sometimes be a problem, because although there are refrigerators in stores, the beer in them doesn't have time to cool down.
Buying alcohol in most of these stores is not as simple as it seems. In the evenings, a queue of locals gathers there, and many of them, by the way, rudely cut in front of tourists. Also, you cannot enter most of these stores (sales are through a small window), there are no price tags, so to choose something you have to ask the seller how much things cost.
Lately, however, more civilized stores with open counters have appeared, but even there you cannot take the goods and examine them closely; everything is handed out only by the seller. Liquor stores have also appeared in large supermarkets, but although they are located inside, they still operate separately according to their own schedule and have their own cash register. That is, you cannot simply come to the supermarket, pick up other groceries and alcohol, and pay for everything at one checkout.