CL · Expiry & renewal tracking
Never let your premises operate with the alcohol licence unpaid
The municipal alcohol licence is paid half-yearly in advance, in January and July, and no premises may operate without paying it and keeping it up to date (Law 19.925, Article 5). Operating with it unpaid is fined and, after a second fine without payment, leads to permanent closure and forfeiture of the licence.
Law 19.925 regulates the sale of alcoholic beverages and the sanctions for those who breach its provisions (Article 1). All premises selling alcoholic beverages are classified into categories, such as off-licence depots, hotels, restaurants, cabarets, bars, discotheques, supermarkets and minimarkets, each with its own licence (Article 3), and are subject to supervision and inspection by the Carabineros de Chile and by municipal and fiscal inspectors (Article 2). Licences are granted by the municipalities in the manner the law determines, without prejudice to the Municipal Revenue Law and Law 18.695 (Article 5, first paragraph), and may be granted in both the urban and the rural part of the commune (Article 6).
The licence fee must be paid half-yearly in advance, in the months of January and July of each year (Article 5, second paragraph). Premises selling alcoholic beverages may not operate without first having paid the applicable licence, nor continue operating without being up to date with it, unless the fact is not attributable to the debtor and is proven with documents, which the mayor assesses (Article 5, third paragraph). Anyone breaching this provision is fined, with the fine increased if the breach persists; if, after the second fine, the offender does not pay the licence, the premises are permanently closed and the licence forfeited (Article 5, fourth paragraph).
The municipality must also suspend the authorisation to sell alcohol for premises whose licence was not paid when due (Article 20, item 3). The licence records the owner's name, identity card and the business address and, for legal entities, their administrators or managers; licences may only be transferred after municipal registration (Article 9). The outside of the premises must display the words "Expendio de bebidas alcohólicas", the classification of the business and the class of licence paid, and the licence must be fixed inside in a place visible to the public (Article 12). Owners, operators and managers of the premises are jointly and severally liable for sanctions imposed for breaches of the law (Article 51).
At a glance
| Rule | Law 19.925 on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages (Article 1) |
|---|---|
| Who grants it | The municipality, without prejudice to the Municipal Revenue Law and Law 18.695 (Article 5, first paragraph) |
| Payment schedule | Half-yearly in advance, in January and July of each year (Article 5, second paragraph) |
| Condition to operate | Having paid the licence in advance and keeping it up to date (Article 5, third paragraph) |
| Sanction for operating unpaid | Fine, increased if the breach persists; after the second fine without payment, permanent closure and forfeiture of the licence (Article 5, fourth paragraph) |
| Municipal suspension | The municipality must suspend the authorisation to sell alcohol if the licence is not paid when due (Article 20, item 3) |
| Display | Licence fixed inside in a visible place; outside, the words "Expendio de bebidas alcohólicas", the classification and the licence class (Article 12) |
| Who inspects | Carabineros de Chile and municipal and fiscal inspectors (Article 2) |
Licences in the limited categories (letters A, E, F and H of Article 3) that are not paid when legally due are auctioned publicly for the benefit of the municipality, or lapse when the commune has to reduce their number (Article 7). Except for the offences in Articles 42 and 46, breaches of the law are contraventions heard by the local police courts (Article 53).
Who is responsible?
Payment falls to the licence holder. Owners, operators and managers of premises selling alcoholic beverages are jointly and severally liable for sanctions imposed for breaches of the law (Article 51). If the holder is a legal entity, its administrators or managers are recorded on the licence (Article 9), and representatives of legal entities whose businesses sell alcohol without having paid the licence face the sanctions of Article 43 (Article 44). In practice the premises manager or the chain's finance team keeps the payment dates of each licence.
If the deadline passes
Operating without the licence up to date brings a fine, increased if the breach persists; if after the second fine the offender does not pay the licence, the premises are permanently closed and the licence forfeited (Article 5, fourth paragraph). The municipality must suspend the authorisation to sell alcohol when the licence was not paid when due (Article 20, item 3). Those who sell alcoholic beverages without having paid the licence face the sanctions of Article 43, which include a fine, confiscation and, on repetition, closure (Article 44). Premises closed permanently may only reopen for alcohol sales under a different owner and with a different licence (Article 48).
Two fixed dates a year, not a renewal
Unlike a certificate with its own expiry date, the alcohol licence follows a calendar set by law: payment is in advance and takes place in January and July (Article 5, second paragraph). Law 19.925 does not set the exact day within each month, so use the date your municipality indicates. Since one premises may hold two or more different licences (Article 10), record each licence and each premises separately.
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each premises and each alcohol licence, and record two fixed deadlines a year: the January and July payment dates indicated by your municipality; if no day is given, use the last day of each of those months so that reminders arrive within the payment month.
- Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each date and on the day itself.
- The premises manager can upload the half-yearly payment receipt through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
- Assign a responsible person, such as the premises manager or the head of finance; if a payment is overdue, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the alcohol licence paid?
- Half-yearly in advance, in the months of January and July of each year (Law 19.925, Article 5, second paragraph).
- Can the premises operate while the payment is being sorted out?
- No. Premises may not operate without first having paid the licence, nor continue operating without being up to date with it, unless the fact is not attributable to the debtor and is proven with documents before the mayor (Article 5, third paragraph).
- What happens if the premises operate with the licence unpaid?
- A fine, increased if the breach persists; if after the second fine the licence is not paid, permanent closure of the premises and forfeiture of the licence (Article 5, fourth paragraph). The municipality must also suspend the authorisation to sell alcohol (Article 20, item 3).
- Who inspects alcohol sales?
- Carabineros de Chile and municipal and fiscal inspectors, within their respective powers (Article 2). Breaches, except for the offences in Articles 42 and 46, are heard by the local police courts (Article 53).
Sources
Last checked: Oct 10, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.
Made for alcohol sales licence (Chile)
A ready template for alcohol sales licence (Chile) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.
Reminders on time
Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each alcohol sales licence (Chile) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.
Assign an owner
Give each alcohol sales licence (Chile) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.