Can I distil my own spirits in Switzerland?
It depends — distilling is allowed, but registered and taxed. Producing spirits is regulated by the Alcohol Act and now administered by the BAZG. Distilling apparatus is concession-controlled; private individuals usually distil their fruit via a licensed contract distillery (Lohnbrennerei) or as a registered home distiller. The spirits tax of CHF 29 per litre of pure alcohol applies (e.g. 1 litre of 40% fruit brandy = CHF 11.60 tax). The contract distillery reports the quantity to the BAZG, which bills the tax to the person who ordered the distilling. Farmers may distil their own fruit and use it tax-free for the farm's own use under conditions. In short: yes, with registration and tax.
📋 The rules
- Production regulated by the Alcohol Act (BAZG)
- Distilling apparatus is concession-controlled
- Private usually via a contract distillery
- Spirits tax CHF 29/litre pure alcohol
- Farmers: own use tax-free under conditions
🔓 Exceptions
- Farmers (from a certain area): own and self-gathered fruit
- Farm household's own use tax-free up to a calculated maximum
- Over 200 L pure alcohol/year: commercial control
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Producing spirits without registration or paying tax breaches the Alcohol Act and risks back-claims and fines and confiscation of the apparatus and the product. Beware a myth: "for my own use I can distil freely" is only partly true — even private distilling must be registered and taxed, and only farmers have certain own-use exemptions. Tip: distil via a licensed contract distillery that registers everything correctly with the BAZG, and clarify the tax in advance so there's no back-claim.
📎 Official sources
- BAZG · production of spirits for private persons →
- BAZG · agricultural production of spirits →
- Fedlex · Alcohol Act →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I distil my own spirits?
Yes, but registered and taxed. Producing spirits is regulated by the Alcohol Act and administered by the BAZG. Distilling apparatus is concession-controlled, which is why private individuals usually have their fruit distilled via a licensed contract distillery or as a registered home distiller.
How high is the spirits tax?
The spirits tax is CHF 29 per litre of pure alcohol. One litre of fruit brandy at 40 percent by volume contains 0.4 litres of pure alcohol and so costs CHF 11.60 in tax. The contract distillery reports the distilled quantity to the BAZG, which bills the tax to the person who ordered it.
What is a contract distillery?
A contract distillery (Lohnbrennerei) is a licensed business that distils private individuals' fruit into spirits for them. As owning a still is concession-controlled, this is the simplest route for most people. The distillery handles the registration and the tax accounting with the BAZG for you.
Are there exemptions for farmers?
Yes. Farmers above a certain useful area may distil their own and self-gathered wild fruit. Spirits for the farm household's own use are tax-free under conditions, up to an annually calculated maximum, with an annual declaration. Over 200 litres of pure alcohol, commercial control applies.
What's the penalty without registration?
Distilling without registration or without paying tax breaches the Alcohol Act. You risk back-claims of the tax, fines and confiscation of the apparatus and the product. So distil via a licensed contract distillery and clarify the tax in advance to avoid any problems with the authorities.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “distil spirits switzerland allowed”
- “spirits tax switzerland”
- “contract distillery switzerland”
- “home distilling switzerland register”
- “distil schnapps tax switzerland”
- “alcohol act distilling switzerland”