40 companies to receive licences to import foreign liquor into Arakan State

By Admin 24 Jul 2026

DMG Newsroom

24 July 2026, Mrauk-U

The Arakan Army is set to grant official licences to 40 companies to import foreign liquor into areas under its control in Arakan State.

The selection process will be conducted through an auction system. Application forms can be purchased for K30,000 at nearby administration offices and submitted from July 20 to August 20.

Each selected company will be permitted to distribute up to 25,000 litres of liquor annually, according to sources close to the Alcohol Control Board (ACB) under the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government (APRG).

"A single company will be allowed to import 25,000 litres, equivalent to roughly 25 tons or one 10-wheeler cargo truck," a source close to the ACB said. "Across all 40 companies, more than one million litres will be distributed annually."

The reserve auction price is set at K25 million, and the 40 highest bidders will be selected. The official licence fee will be calculated by averaging the highest and lowest bids among the winning applicants.

Applicants representing companies must be at least 18 years old and hold a National Registration Card (NRC) or temporary identity document. Individuals blacklisted by the APRG and their family members are not eligible to apply.

Imports of 20 liquor and beer brands produced and distributed by the military regime and businesses linked to it, including Grand Royal Black, Grand Royal Smooth, Grand Royal Whisky, Grand Master, Myanmar Beer, Mandalay Beer, and Army Rum, remain prohibited.

An official from the United League of Arakan (ULA) tax department said: "We have banned 20 liquor and beer brands produced and distributed by the Myanmar military and its associates. Just as the junta has imposed blockades on Arakan State, we are cutting off financial streams that directly flow to the enemy."

Participating companies must provide proof of investing at least K100 million in areas controlled by the Arakan Army, including offices and operational sites, and must have no previous convictions for corruption.

Applicants must specify proposed retail locations in their tender submissions. Imported alcohol must be sold in its original packaging without blending or alteration. Violators will face licence revocation and legal action.

A local business owner welcomed the move, saying: "Because bans led to illegal sales anyway, I welcome this formal licensing system. It generates tax revenue and makes legal enforcement easier. However, since counterfeit foreign spirits exist, strong verification measures are needed to protect consumers."

The APRG banned spirits produced in mainland Myanmar and foreign countries across Arakan State in December 2024, restricting residents to locally produced alcohol.

During the Thingyan period from April to May 31, 2026, foreign liquor and beer imports were temporarily allowed under a 50 percent tax rate. The APRG is now moving toward a structured tender system for official import licences.