Each establishment or person which sells drinks and/or food or provides accommodation with services against payment needs to be in possession of one or more beverage and horeca licenses. The beverage and horeca ordinance of Bonaire distinguishes twelve categories of beverage and horeca licenses.
These are:

1. The hotel license
2. The apartment license
3. The bar license
4. The club license
5. The wholesale license
6. The retail license
7. The beer license
8. The lodge license
9. The restaurant license
10. The snack license
11. The take-away license
12. The ice-parlor license

The explanation of the categories:

Hotel license: This license gives the holder the right to manage a hotel and sell small amounts of liquor, low and non-alcoholic drinks, ice for consumption purpose or a similar product and/or food for use on the spot, for which the license is valid.

Apartment license: This license gives the holder the right to rent out apartments.

Bar license: This license gives the holder the right to sell small amounts of liquor for use on the spot as well as elsewhere, low and non- alcoholic drinks, ice for consumption purpose or a similar product and/or food, for use on the spot.

Club license: This license gives the holder the right to sell small amounts of liquor, low and non-alcoholic drinks, ice for consumption purpose or a similar product and/or food, exclusively to members and to their guests for use on the spot, for which the license is valid.

Wholesale license: This license gives the holder the right to sell large amounts of liquor, only for use elsewhere, for which the license is valid.

Retail license: This licenses gives the holder the right to sell small amounts of liquor exclusively for use elsewhere, for which the license is valid.

Beer license: This license gives the holder the right to sell small amounts of low and non-alcoholic drinks, ice for consumption purpose or a similar product for use on the spot.

Lodge license: This license gives the holder the right to run a lodge, sell small amounts of low and non-alcoholic drinks, ice fit for consumption or a similar product and/or food for use on the spot exclusively to the lodge visitors and their guests.

Restaurant license: This license gives the holder the right to sell small amounts of non-alcoholic drinks, ice fit for consumption or a similar product and/or food prepared in a kitchen on the spot, for use on the spot.

Snack license: This license gives the holder the right to sell small amounts of low and non-alcoholic drinks, ice for consumption purpose or a similar product and/or certain food prepared in a simple way on the spot, for use on the spot.

Take-away license: This license gives the holder the right to sell food which is prepared in a kitchen on the spot, for use elsewhere than on the spot.

Ice parlor license: This license gives the holder the right to sell small amounts of non-alcoholic drinks, ice fit for consumption or a similar product, for use on the spot.

Explanation of Terms:

To get a better understanding about what is meant by the above mentioned terms the following paragraph will give you a brief explanation.

Liquor: drinks which contain more than 21% of alcohol at a temperature of 15ºC.

Low-alcoholic drink: beer, wine and drinks that contain less than 21% of alcohol at a temperature of 15ºC.

Small amounts: sale by quantities of less than nine liters.

For use on the spot: The sale of products which are prepared, packed and/or offered in such a way that it can be consumed in the establishment or in the direct neighborhood.

Lodge: Facility which accommodates four or more persons to a maximum of nine persons against payment.

Request Procedure Beverage and Horeca License:

A beverage and horeca license can be requested by sending a form to the Executive Council of the Island of Bonaire. Forms are available at DEZA. The form must contain two stamps of Naf 5,- which can be bought at the Collector’s Office (Ontvangerskantoor). Attach the stamps to the form. You must also pay dues for the processing of each license. Dues must be paid at the Collector’s office. Attach a copy of the receipt to the form.

Table of dues for processing of the request:

Granting Procedure for a Beverage and Horeca License:

For the granting of a liquor, hotel and catering license the Executive Council of the Island Bonaire will ask the Fire-department, Hygiene Department for advice and if the business is not inconsistent with the interest of the public order, morality and general interest of Bonaire, the business will most likely be granted the license.

The Cost for Possession of a Beverage and Horeca license:

For having the rights that the beverage and horeca license grant you, a monthly fee must be paid at the Collector’s Office.

Table of monthly fees for the possession of a beverage and horeca license:

The Changing of data of a Beverage and Horeca license:

When changes occur in the a business, a new beverage and horeca license must be requested. This can be done similarly as to the first license request.

Other permissions:

Permission can be requested for:

• the selling of food and drinks by a distributor
• having deviated closing hours
• music and/or performance for amusement of the public
• dancing and having live music in an establishment

Permissions can be requested by sending a letter to the Executive Council of the Island of Bonaire. The letter must contain two stamps of Naf 5,-. You must also pay dues for the processing of the request. Staple a copy of the receipt to the letter. Payment can be done at the Collector’s office.

Table of dues for the processing of a permission:

For having the rights that these permissions give you a monthly fee must be paid at the Collector’s Office.

Table of yearly fees for having the permission rights:

Office Consulting Hours:

Every Thursday between 09:00 and 11:00 am DEZA has office consulting hours. In the consulting hours all questions can be asked about the beverage and horeca license. The employees of DEZA can also help you with your request letter. There is no need to call for an appointment during consulting hours.

Important Addresses:

Executive Council of the Island of Bonaire
Plaza Reina Wilhelmina 1, Tel: 717-5330

Collector’s office
J.A. Abraham Boulevard 27, Tel: 717-5330 ext. 512