It was created when it was demerged from the state-owned wine and liquor retailer Vinmonopolet on January 1, 1996.

The retailing operations were kept in Vinmonopolet; import, export, production, and storage were transferred to Arcus.

In July 2001 the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry sold 66% of the company to Sucra.

In 2005 Sucra sold Arcus to the Swedish investment company Ratos, including the partial ownership of Braastad.

In 2012 Danish Distillers (Aalborg Taffel, etc., Gammel Dansk) was bought from Pernod Ricard.