Permits for strong drinks (liquor)

Hospitality businesses selling spirits or fermented beverages must obtain a "patente" from the local Mayor. The process requires submitting a written request with ID, criminal record checks, and potentially urban planning or fire regulation certificates, and insurance. The authorization is site-specific and taxed.

Audience: Businesses in hospitality sector in Brussels
Cost: Subject to a tax as per local commune regulations
Documents: ID card, criminal record extract, possibly conformity and insurance certificates
Mode: Digital
Validity: FR/NL

Are you the manager of a hospitality business looking to sell spirits or fermented alcoholic beverages? You must request an authorisation from the Mayor of the local commune. This permit is called a « patente », as per the law on licenced selling of fermented beverages, which does not have an equivalent at commune level.

The procedure

In order to obtain an authorisation to sell alcohol to be consumed on site in your establishment, you must first submit a written request to the commune’s service in charge of ‘patentes’, via a form reserved for this purpose. This authorisation is valid only for the address of the business concerned and is subject to a tax.

Documents you will need to provide

Depending on the commune, the requester must include the following in their application:

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

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

Certain local authorities may also request:

- certificates of conformity with urban planning and fire regulations

- insurance contracts

Most of the municipal procedures can be found in Opens in new windowIRISbox.

Anderlecht form (french)

anderlecht.be

Anderlecht regulation (french/dutch)

anderlecht.be

Auderghem

auderghem.be

Etterbeek

etterbeek.brussels