A Guide to taking wine and alcohol on the airplane.

So here you are, drinking amazing wine in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Tuscany, Rioja, or another of the many European wine regions kissed by the terroir gods, and you are thinking how do I get some of this stuff back home? Can I take wine or spirits on a plane these days? And if so, is there a quantity limit? Are there duties and taxes on alcohol? How do I protect my bottles from breakage during the flight?

There is a lot of confusion and misperceptions surrounding whether you can take wine and other types of alcohol onto a plane, especially when it comes to international travel. The purpose of this article is to clarify the facts and lay out the rules and regulations for taking wine and alcohol as baggage onto a plane. Please note that these rules do not apply to wine shipping, which can involve a lot more restrictions. Many countries simply do not allow the shipping of wine and alcohol. 

In general when it comes to flying with alcohol you are bound by a few types of regulations:

1. Those set by international transportation security bodies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States, the European Commission, and other national governments
2. Individual airline regulations, and
3. Import laws set by individual countries (and sometimes individual States or Provinces within those countries) the alcohol will be entering into.

International transport security body regulations, such as those set by the TSA, the EU Commission, and other international governments:

Regulations for carry-on (cabin) baggage:

Wine and hard alcohol in your carry-on or cabin baggage is generally NOT allowed. This is because liquids in quantities larger than 100 ml (3.4 oz.) cannot be placed in your carry-on. An exception to the carry-on rule is made for wine and other spirits purchased in duty-free stores beyond security checkpoints. Under rules that took effect January 31, 2014, passengers traveling internationally into the United States, Canada and Europe with a connecting flight are permitted to carry liquids in excess of 100 ml (3.4 ounces) in their carry-on baggage, provided they were purchased in duty-free shops and placed in secure, tamper-evident bags (STEBs).

See: TSA Again Allows Large Bottles Of Liquids On Planes, With One Catch, Forbes Magazine, 2014/02/05

Regulations for checked (hold) baggage:

Wine and alcohol in checked (hold) baggage is accepted as under the following conditions:

• Alcoholic beverages with less than 24% alcohol – no restrictions
• Alcoholic beverages with alcohol content between 24% and 70% - 5L per person internationally and 10L within the EU
• Alcoholic beverages with more than 70% alcohol - prohibited

“While beverages with an alcohol content of greater than 70 percent are prohibited and those with an alcohol content between 24 and 70 percent are limited, there is no TSA-regulated quantity limit on beverages with less than 24 percent alcohol, such as wine. Airline-created checked baggage limits still apply, but passengers are free to use the entirety of their quota for wine transport.” USA TODAY Travel Tips: Air Travel With Wine Bottles 

"Please note, you can’t take alcoholic beverages with more than 70% alcohol content (140 proof), including 95% grain alcohol and 150 proof rum, in your checked luggage. You may take up to five liters of alcohol with alcohol content between 24% and 70% per person as checked luggage if it’s packaged in a sealable bottle or flask. Alcoholic beverages with less than 24% alcohol content are not subject to hazardous materials regulations." TSA: Carrying Alcohols in Your Checked Baggage

"You can pack bottles of alcohol (including homemade wine and beer, and commercial products) in your checked baggage if: 1. The percentage of alcohol by volume is 70% (140 proof) or less. 2. The quantity does not exceed five litres per person for alcoholic beverages between 24% and 70% alcohol by volume. Alcoholic beverages containing 24% alcohol or less are not subject to limitations on quantities." 

The EU Commission has similar rules. Wine and alcohol can be checked-in as long as limits are respected.  

Individual Airline Rules:

Individual airlines adhere to the regulations outlined by the international security bodies. In addition you must follow the checked-baggage weight limits outlined by each airline. For international travelers this is typically 23kg (50 lb) per checked baggage for economy class, and 32 kg for business class or if an overweight baggage fee is paid. Many US airlines allow multiple bags per person to be checked-in for no additional fee, while others charge typically $50 to $75 for a second piece of baggage.

Not all airlines have an explicit written policy on alcohol checking alcohol in your hold luggage, but the general rule is that it must be packaged to completely prevent breakage, which could damage other customers’ luggage and property. Some airlines require Styrofoam padded packs to be used.

Check out our must-have wine and alcohol travel products and travel with your bottles with peace of mind.

It is advisable to check with your airline if any requirements exist.

See: Baggage Allowance Info 

* Please note the Italian airline, Alitalia does not allow any "bottles of liquids even if perfectly packaged, such as oil, wine and vinegar" to be checked in hold baggage. To our knowledge this is the only airline who has such a policy.

Import Laws (Duty, Tariffs, and Quantity Limits):

Your final set of regulations of how much alcohol you can bring with you, comes by way of import laws set by the country you are entering. Many people confuse duty-free limits with overall limits on bringing in alcohol into a given country. In general, most countries permit you to bring in alcohol over the duty-free limit, but you may (or may not) have to pay the associated duties and taxes, depending on how strict the country and its customs officers are. Duty-free and overall limits vary by country and even individual state or province within countries like Canada and the US.

Each country typically has a duty-free alcohol allowance, where the alcohol is not subject to any duties, tariffs, or taxes, and allows an additional quantity which is subject to duty and taxes. Please note that this duty and taxes may, but often is not actually collected.

Also please note that in almost all cases you must be of legal drinking age in the country you are bringing alcohol into.

United States

Although the language on the U.S Customs and Border Protection website doesn't at first glance make this 100% clear, the United States has a very friendly laws towards bringing in wine for personal use if it's accompanied by the owner (this includes very low per bottle duties and taxes, which customs agents often don't bother to even collect). 

Bringing Alcohol into the USA - USA Customs Borders

"Declare the alcohol you are transporting on your customs form and pay the appropriate duty to the customs officer, typically around $1 to $2 for wine and beer, while the amount for spirits varies by type, as of publication". 

"The duties range on Liquor depending on the country of origin and alcohol content. However, even after paying the duty your savings are still substantial.
Here are a few Examples of how inexpensive the duties are at US Customs:
Wine $0.35 a 750ml Bottle
Beer $1.25 a case of 24
Liquor (1Litre) $2-$3 (on average)" Peace Bridge Duty Free Guide:How Much is duty on extra Liquor and beer at US Customs?

Canada

Canadian duties and taxes are assed based on the province one is landing into from abroad and can range significantly from province to province. Please note that this does not mean the province of final destination. For example if one lands in Ontario and has a connecting flight to the final destination of Alberta, duties and taxes will be assessed using Ontario regulations. Currently, Alberta has the lowest alcohol duties and taxes, while British Columbia has the highest. See the table below for the duties, and taxes for a given province or check out Canada Border Service Agency: Calculating the Provincial Sales Tax, Harmonized Sales Tax, Provincial Tobacco Tax, and Alcohol Markup

Australia

When bringing over 2.25L of alcohol, those entering Australia are subject to duty, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Wine Equalisation Tax (WET), which is equivalent to approximately 49% of the pre-VAT value of the goods. See: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Customs Tariff, Schedule 3, Chapter 22 - Beverages, spirits and vinegar

Brazil 

Hong Kong 

Japan 

Mexico 

New Zealand 

Norway 

Singapore 

South Africa