Is Alcohol legal in Samoa?

Also known as: booze

Legal status

Alcohol is not a narcotic under the Narcotics Act 1967; none of its Schedules name ethanol, beverage alcohol, or any alcoholic product, and the Narcotics Act was searched across all pages with zero hits for alcohol related terms. Separate legislation, the Alcohol Control Act 2020 (2020 No. 20), governs its sale, licensing, and age limits. Section 3 of that Act defines alcohol to include a beverage containing more than 1.15 percent ethanol by volume at 20 degrees Celsius, and any spirits, wine, ale, beer, stout, or cider containing more than two parts percent of proof spirit. The Act repeals the Liquor Act 2011 under section 75.

Consequences if caught

Section 14(1) of the Alcohol Control Act 2020 provides that a person must not sell alcohol except as authorised by a licence issued under the Act; a breach is an offence carrying a fine of up to 100 penalty units or imprisonment of up to six months, or both, under section 14(2). Section 16 separately makes it an offence to sell or supply alcohol to a person under 21 years, the Act's defined age for a minor, with the same penalty band. Section 15 makes selling adulterated alcohol an offence carrying a fine of up to 50 penalty units or imprisonment of up to three months, or both.

If prescribed or medical

The Alcohol Control Act 2020 does not provide a medical or prescription exemption; alcohol is not treated as a medicine under this Act. Alcohol used for a medicinal compounding purpose would instead fall to the Pharmacy Act 2007's dispensing framework, which was opened but does not supply a specific alcohol classification.

Documentation

A person wishing to sell, supply, or manufacture alcohol in Samoa must hold a licence under the Alcohol Control Act 2020; the classes of licence and the application process are set out in sections 21 to 29 of that Act. The Act does not set a personal, non commercial import allowance for travellers; anyone bringing alcohol into Samoa should confirm current customs duty free allowances with Samoa Customs or a Samoan diplomatic post before travel.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Samoa’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.