Alcohol In Brunei: Where To Buy?

Alcohol is forbidden in Brunei and cannot be bought anywhere in the country. However, non-Muslim visitors over the age of 17 are allowed to bring a limited amount of alcohol into the country, for their own consumption, by filling out a customs form. This can then be consumed in the confines of hotel rooms, private residences, or one of the few 'bring your own' restaurants.

Buying alcohol in Brunei

Brunei is a dry country, with a ban on the sale of alcohol. However, foreigners can bring alcohol into the country and consume it in private. Here is a guide on how to do this, as well as some information on Brunei's alcohol laws and where to drink.

Buying Alcohol to Take into Brunei

You can buy alcohol in Labuan, Malaysia, which is a duty-free zone. The alcohol will come with a bright yellow/orange customs form, which details the rules for taking alcohol into Brunei. These include:

• You must be 17 or over.
• You must be a non-Muslim.
• You cannot import alcohol into Brunei on two consecutive days – there must be a 48-hour gap between each importation.
• The alcohol must be for your own consumption and stored and consumed at your place of residence in Brunei.
• You must fill in and sign the Royal Customs Liquor Form.
• You must not exceed the maximum allowance.

The maximum allowance of alcohol per person is:

• 2 bottles of liquor (not exceeding 2 litres in total).
• 12 cans or bottles of beer (each can/bottle not exceeding 330ml).

You can get the Royal Customs Liquor Form from any duty-free shop or off-licence in Labuan, on board the ferry to Brunei, or on arrival at the Serasa Ferry Terminal in Muara, Brunei.

Drinking Alcohol in Brunei

By law, alcohol can only be stored and consumed in your place of residence. Tourists can drink in their hotel rooms, and some hotels may allow guests to drink in designated areas. There are also some 'bring your own' restaurants, where you can drink alcohol that you have brought into the country.

Brunei's Alcohol Laws

Islamic law, which Brunei's penal code mostly aligns with, prohibits the consumption of alcohol for Muslims. Foreigners can bring alcohol into the country, but they must declare it on their customs form and keep the form with them at all times in case of inspection.

Where to Drink in Brunei

There are very few bars, pubs and clubs in Brunei due to the ban on alcohol. One exception is the Tagz Lounge at the Sheraton Utama Hotel in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, where you can take your own alcohol and buy mixers. Some of the large hotels in Bandar Seri Begawan also have live music.

Alternative Entertainment in Brunei

If you're not interested in drinking and clubbing, there is plenty to do in Brunei. The main emphasis is on shopping and dining, and there are also cultural shows, cinemas in mega malls and plenty of sporting events.

Drinking alcohol in public in Brunei

Foreign travellers above the age of 17 may bring alcohol into the country through customs. To do so, they must declare it on a customs form, which they must keep with them while in the country in case they are asked to present it. This process applies regardless of whether travellers are entering via Brunei International Airport, the Labuan ferry, or overland from Malaysia. The maximum allowance of alcohol per person is:

• Two 2-litre bottles of liquor (must not exceed 2 litres in total)
• Twelve cans or bottles of beer (each can/bottle must not exceed 330ml)

Alcohol brought into the country must be for personal consumption and must be stored and consumed in the place of residence. Travellers are subject to punishment by law if they take alcohol outside their room. Tourists can drink alcohol in hotel rooms or private residences as long as they are not intoxicated in public. Some hotels may allow guests to drink in designated areas inside the hotel.

Bringing alcohol into Brunei from Malaysia

Alcohol is forbidden in Brunei, a strict Muslim state. However, non-Muslims are allowed to bring alcohol into the country from Malaysia. Here is a detailed guide on bringing alcohol into Brunei from Malaysia:

Where to Buy Alcohol in Malaysia

Buy your alcohol in Labuan, Malaysia, a duty-free island with shops selling alcohol and cigarettes. Labuan is easily accessible from Kota Kinabalu. You can stock up on alcohol in Labuan and benefit from lower prices than on the Malaysian mainland and Borneo.

Rules for Bringing Alcohol into Brunei

When buying alcohol in Labuan, the vendor will provide a bright yellow/orange customs form, which outlines the rules for taking alcohol into Brunei:

• You must be 17 or older.
• You must be a non-Muslim.
• You cannot import alcohol into Brunei two days in a row. There must be a 48-hour gap between each importation.
• The alcohol must be for personal consumption and stored and consumed at your accommodation in Brunei.
• You must fill in and sign the Royal Customs Liquor Form.
• You must not exceed the maximum allowance.

Maximum Alcohol Allowance

As of April 2013, the maximum allowance of alcohol per person is:

• 2 bottles of liquor (not exceeding a total of 2 litres)
• 12 cans or bottles of beer (each can/bottle not exceeding 330ml)

Where to Get the Royal Customs Liquor Form

You can obtain the Royal Customs Liquor Form at the following locations:

• Any duty-free shop or off-licence in Labuan, Malaysia
• On board the ferry to Brunei
• On arrival at the Serasa Ferry Terminal in Muara, Brunei

Customs Process

After clearing immigration and passport checks, proceed to the Customs declaration booth and submit your Liquor Form and passport. The officer will stamp both parts of the form, returning one part to you. Present this stamped form and your bag of alcohol to the security personnel as you exit the terminal.

It is important to note that the consumption of alcohol in Brunei is permitted only in private, such as in your hotel or hostel room. Drinking in public is prohibited.

Drinking alcohol in Brunei hotels

It is important to note that travellers above the age of 17 can bring alcohol into Brunei through customs. To do so, one must declare it on their customs form and keep the form with them while in the country, in case they are asked to present it. This process is to be followed regardless of the entry point, be it the Brunei International Airport, Labuan ferry, or overland from Malaysia. The maximum allowance per person is two 2-litre bottles of liquor (must not exceed 2 litres in total) and twelve cans or bottles of beer (each can/bottle must not exceed 330ml).

By law, alcohol can only be stored and consumed in your place of residence. This means that if you are staying in a hotel, you are allowed to drink alcohol in your hotel room. However, alcohol brought into Brunei must be for your own consumption and distribution is not allowed. If you take alcohol outside your room, you are subject to punishment by law. Many Bruneians are devoutly Muslim, and some may be offended by the sight of alcohol. Therefore, it is important to be discreet and respectful when consuming alcohol in your hotel room.

It is worth noting that the rules regarding alcohol in Brunei hotels may vary, and it is always a good idea to check with the hotel directly before making any assumptions. Additionally, it is important to respect the local laws and customs of Brunei, dress modestly, and avoid public intoxication.

Brunei's underground drinking scene

Bruneï's underground drinking scene:

Drinking alcohol in Brunei is a clandestine affair. The Islamic sultanate on the Borneo coast forbids the sale of alcohol, but that doesn't mean visitors and residents can't imbibe—they just have to be discreet about it. Desk clerks and cabbies can help discreet visitors find hideaway bars. One such bar is tucked away on the second floor of one of Bandar Seri Begawan's better-known hotels. Two unmarked doors, which appear to lead to standard hotel rooms, open into a murmuring, billiard-playing drinking den.

Foreigners can bring in alcohol and drink in their hotel rooms, or head to one of the BYO ('bring your own') restaurants. The Tagz Lounge at the Sheraton Utama Hotel in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, is one such place. While they cannot sell you alcohol, you can take in your own (purchased from duty-free at the airport), have them serve it to you, and buy mixers.

There are also a few inconspicuous discos in Bandar Seri Begawan, located out of the way in backstreet shop houses. Expats and oil workers who know the lay of the land have been known to gain entry to these places where beer is served at a premium.

If you are a non-Muslim, you can bring alcohol into Brunei. You must be 17 or older, and you cannot import alcohol into the country two days in a row—there must be a period of 48 hours between each importation. You must declare the alcohol on a customs form and keep the form with you while in the country, in case you're asked to present it. The maximum allowance is two bottles of liquor (must not exceed two litres in total) and 12 cans or bottles of beer (each can must not exceed 330ml).

Frequently asked questions