The Potable Spirits (Compounding) Act

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.577
CHAPTER 390
THE POTABLE SPIRITS (COMPOUNDING) ACT
[PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION]
Arrangement of Sections
Section Title
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
3. Appointment of licensing officers.
4. Offence to compound spirits without a licence.
5. Issue of licences.
6. Regulations.

itle.
2. Interpretation.
3. Appointment of licensing officers.
4. Offence to compound spirits without a licence.
5. Issue of licences.
6. Regulations.

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.578
1. This Act may be cited as the Potable Spirits (Compounding)
Act. 2. In this Act, unless the context requires otherwise-
“denatured spirits” means spirits mixed with any substance
so as to render the mixture unfit, and incapable of being
readily converted so as to be fit for human consumption
as a beverage;
“licensing officer” means a person appointed under section
3 to be a licensing officer for the purposes of this Act;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for finance;
“spirits” means spirits of any description and includes all
mixtures, compounds or preparations made with spirits,
but does not include any denatured spirits;
“to compound spirits” means to communicate any flavour
to, or to mix any ingredient or material with spirits, but
not so as to denature the spirits. 3.–(1) The Minister may appoint any person to be a licensing
officer and a collector of revenue for purposes of this Act either
for the whole or any part of Tanzania. (2) Every appointment made under subsection (1) shall be
notified in the Gazette.

r purposes of this Act either
for the whole or any part of Tanzania. (2) Every appointment made under subsection (1) shall be
notified in the Gazette.

Short title
Interpretation
Appointment of
licensing officers
Act No. 58 of 1964
s. 2
CHAPTER 390
THE POTABLE SPIRITS (COMPOUNDING) ACT
An Act to control the compounding of potable spirits. [27 December 1963]
Acts Nos. 57 of 1963
58 of 1964
[R.L. Cap. 539]

BLE SPIRITS (COMPOUNDING) ACT
An Act to control the compounding of potable spirits. [27 December 1963]
Acts Nos. 57 of 1963
58 of 1964
[R.L. Cap. 539]

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.579
THE POTABLE SPIRITS (COMPOUNDING) ACT [CAP. 390 R.E. 2023]
4.

ved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.579
THE POTABLE SPIRITS (COMPOUNDING) ACT [CAP. 390 R.E. 2023]
4.

A person who, for profit or sale, compounds spirits
otherwise than under and in accordance with a licence issued
under section 5, commits an offence and on conviction shall
be liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand shillings or to
imprisonment for a period not exceeding twelve months or
to both:
Provided that, nothing in this section shall apply to the
bona fide compounding of spirits-
(a) upon any premises licensed under the Intoxicating
Liquors Act, by the licensee, for the lawful sale thereof
for consumption on those premises;
(b) in any canteen, club, institute, mess or similar
institution not conducted by a private individual
for personal profit, for the lawful sale thereof to the
members only of such canteen, club, institute, mess or
similar institution, for consumption therein;
(c) in any vessel in territorial waters, or in any aircraft, for
the lawful sale thereof to any passenger on or officer
or member of the crew of such vessel or aircraft, for
consumption therein;
(d) in the course of the lawful preparation or administration
of medicine by a medical practitioner registered or
licensed under the Medical, Dental and Allied Health
Professionals Act, a Veterinary Surgeon registered or
licensed under the Veterinary Act or a Pharmacist
registered under the Pharmacy Act;
(e) authorised under the Customs (Management and
Tariff) Act; or
(f) in any circumstances or in any particular case or for
any purpose where an exemption from the provisions
of this section has been granted in writing by a licensing
officer.

r in any particular case or for
any purpose where an exemption from the provisions
of this section has been granted in writing by a licensing
officer.

Offence to
compound spirits
without a licence
Cap. 77
Cap. 152
Cap. 319
Cap. 311
Cap. 40

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.580
THE POTABLE SPIRITS (COMPOUNDING) ACT [CAP. 390 R.E. 2023]
5. Upon application being made to him in that behalf, a licensing
officer may in his discretion, issue a licence to compound
spirits on such terms and subject to such conditions, including
the specification of formulae, as he may think fit.
6. The Minister may make regulations-
(a) prescribing the form of licences issued under this Act
and the fees to be paid therefor and providing for the
duration and cancellation thereof; and
(b) generally for the better carrying out of the provisions of
this Act.
Issue of licences
Regulations