Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
I've heard that you're not allowed to bring liquor filled chocolates into the USA.
You can bring in alcohol-containing products, but you are subject to state laws governing possession of alcohol in the particular state of the port of entry where you arrive. Currently, all 50 states have their own laws limiting alcohol purchase to ages 21+, and as a result, Customs and Border Protection must enforce those laws and prohibit alcohol importation into those states from foreign areas for anybody under 21.
Makes me think about something....Puerto Rico, a U.S. commonwealth where the drinking age is 18 (like most of the rest of the world). No FIS when traveling from Puerto Rico back to the US mainland. Could somebody aged 18-20 buy duty free liquor after security (and/or in smaller than 100mL bottles prior to security) and bring back to a U.S. state without inspection/confiscation? Obviously illegal, but is there a mechanism to stop it from happening?
Note also that the food questions on the blue customs form are different from what one is asked about food on the GE kiosks. Chocolate is allowed, but sometimes writing it on the blue form causes a secondary or agricultural inspection and the associated delays.
Correct. The paper form says "food," so when using the paper form (even if you are a GE member, such as if the kiosks are not working, or if entering at a port of entry without kiosks), then you MUST check YES if you have ANY food items at all. I have never had a problem writing "chocolates" on my declaration form, FWIW.
By contrast, the GE kiosk does not say "food." Instead, it asks about specific types of food that must be declared, such as fruits and veggies, etc. If you are a GE member using a kiosk, you can check NO if you are not carrying the
specific types of foods about which the kiosk asks.
Hope that helps!