Quick answer
Arrack in Sri Lanka is sold in licensed liquor shops known as wine stores, at the liquor counters of larger supermarkets, in some hotel shops and in the duty-free shops at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport. Wine stores are found in every town and have the lowest prices. Shops typically open from morning until around 9.00 or 10.00 in the evening, though hours are set by regulation and change. Buyers must be 21 or over, and no alcohol is sold on poya days or other declared dry days.
Key takeaways
- Licensed liquor shops in Sri Lanka are called wine stores and are the main place to buy arrack.
- Larger supermarkets in Colombo and major towns have separate, licensed liquor counters with fixed prices.
- The legal age to buy alcohol in Sri Lanka is 21.
- No shop sells alcohol on poya days, which fall on each full moon, or on other declared dry days.
- Large wine stores in Colombo carry the widest range of arrack, including aged and limited bottlings.
Where to buy arrack in Sri Lanka: the options
Buying arrack in Sri Lanka means using a licensed outlet. There are four kinds, and they differ in range, price and comfort.
- →Wine stores: the standard licensed bottle shop, in every town.
- →Supermarket liquor counters: cleaner, calmer and easy to browse.
- →Hotel shops and minibars: convenient, with a marked-up price.
- →Airport duty free: on arrival and departure at Colombo airport.
Wine stores
Wine stores are Sri Lanka's licensed liquor shops. Despite the name, their trade is arrack and beer, with imported spirits and a little wine on the upper shelves. Most are counter service: stock sits behind a grille and you ask for what you want.
Wine stores charge the printed retail price or close to it. Small-town shops stock mainly the everyday arracks, while the big stores in Colombo, Negombo, Kandy and Galle carry the full ranges. Queues build in the early evening and on the day before a poya.
Supermarket liquor counters
Supermarket liquor counters are the easiest option for most visitors. The main chains have licensed sections in many larger branches, usually a separate room or a counter near the tills, with open shelves and marked prices.
- →Browse and read labels without pressure.
- →Pay by card as well as cash.
- →Buy mixers, limes and ice in the same visit.
- →Expect the liquor section to be closed on poya days, even if the supermarket is open.
Hours, age limit and dry days
Rules on selling arrack in Sri Lanka are set by the excise authorities and are enforced. Opening hours for off-licences have been revised several times in recent years, so treat any times as a guide and check locally.
- →Typical shop hours: morning to around 9.00 or 10.00 in the evening.
- →Minimum age: 21, and identification may be requested.
- →Poya days: no sales at all, roughly once a month.
- →Other dry days: certain religious festivals and election days.
- →Women buyers: an old regulation restricting sales to women remains on the books; hotels and supermarkets in tourist areas rarely apply it, but some small shops may.
Where not to buy arrack
Where not to buy arrack matters as much as where to buy it. Bottles offered outside licensed premises may be counterfeit, refilled or illicit.
Avoid bottles sold by beach touts, tuk-tuk drivers offering to fetch one on a poya day, unmarked village outlets and anyone selling noticeably below the printed price. Check for an intact seal and the government excise sticker before paying.
Planning your purchase on a trip
Planning an arrack purchase on a trip comes down to two questions: when the next poya day falls and where your route passes a good shop. Buy for a villa stay on the way there, and buy bottles to take home in Colombo, Negombo or Galle near the end.
Lankan Stays & Trails drivers know the licensed shops along each route, will check the poya calendar for you and can go to the counter with you if a wine store feels unfamiliar.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy arrack in Sri Lanka?
Arrack is sold at licensed liquor shops called wine stores, at the liquor counters of larger supermarkets, in some hotel shops and at the duty-free shops in Colombo airport. Wine stores are in every town and usually have the lowest prices.
What is a wine store in Sri Lanka?
A wine store is a licensed off-licence, the Sri Lankan term for a liquor shop. It sells arrack, beer and imported spirits to take away, usually over a counter. Despite the name, wine is a small part of the stock.
What time do liquor shops close in Sri Lanka?
Most liquor shops close at around 9.00 or 10.00 in the evening. Hours are fixed by excise regulation and have changed more than once recently, so check locally. All liquor shops are closed on poya days and other declared dry days.
What is the legal age to buy alcohol in Sri Lanka?
The legal age to buy alcohol in Sri Lanka is 21. Shops, bars and hotels may ask for identification. Travellers under 21 cannot legally purchase arrack or any other alcoholic drink, even if they could do so at home.
Do supermarkets sell arrack in Sri Lanka?
Larger branches of the main supermarket chains have licensed liquor counters selling arrack, beer, wine and spirits at marked prices. Smaller branches and village shops do not. The liquor section closes on poya days even when the rest of the store is open.
Can I buy arrack on a Sunday?
Yes. Sunday is a normal trading day for licensed shops in Sri Lanka unless it happens to be a poya day or another declared dry day. Some smaller shops keep shorter hours at weekends, so buy earlier in the day if unsure.