Originally Posted by
ursine1
Wine vapor can indeed be combustible. However, wine in checked baggage is (usually) not regulated by the FAA.
With regards to all alcoholic beverages, the FAA specifically uses ABV as it's guide for what is allowed and what is banned. (It actually
is as simple as going by the proof.)
Alcoholic beverages with more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol are limited in checked bags to 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per passenger and must be in unopened retail packaging. Alcoholic beverages with 24% alcohol or less are not subject to limitations in checked bags. This includes beers and most wines.
Sorry I should have been clearer. Yes the proof is what is used to determine whether or not the alcohol is regulated. When I said "it's not as simple" I was referring to the post I was replying to that said "an alcoholic beverage needs to be at least 30% ABV to be flammable".
My point being that just because something is above or below 24% alcohol doesn't automatically make it flammable or not. There are other factors that come in to play. So while something that is say 25% or 30% alcohol, for example, may not fully ignite if you try to light it at home, it could very easily fuel a fire under certain conditions. So I suspect that a big part of the FAA's concern is that alcohol could fuel a fire and therefore needs to be regulated. After all, it's not like the alcohol is going to spontaneously combust. That's not why it's regulated.