I have Absolut Vodka (1 Liter) and I was wondering if I could bring it over to the States? I am 19.

I also bought over a lot of pirated DVDs (about 50) and is that allowed? How should I package or arrange them in my luggage? Is it better to hand carry them?

This has been discussed in TravelBuzz before, so you should look there. Not very SQ related at all IMO.

Moving to travelbuzz


Kiwi Flyer
SQ moderator

US Customs would love to seize those pirated DVD's. I wouldn't risk the vodka either. Why call attention to yourself in doing so?

Before you return, just watch the DVDs and drink the vodka! ^

Serioulsy, I wouldn't bring either one, not worth the hassle, IMHO. You can get busted, esp. on the DVDs. And you can always buy the Absolut here, it goes for about $14-17.

Cheers,

Him being 19 means he can't buy the Absolut legally. Now if he was in a large city, he might could pull it off.

IIRC, The alcohol would be an issue. It is *possible* that you could enter via SJU, where the drinking age is 18.

Customs would seize either if discovered to be what they are. Unlikely any further repercussions although theoretically they could make a stink over the DVD's. Much more so if it was 50 of the same title than if it was 50 different titles. If it was in your bag and you had put on your customs forms you had $20 worth of stuff and the DVD's are your personal movies to watch on trip..... well if you didn't get secondaried, you didn't make a false statement did you..... and if you did get secondaried, about the worst that could happen is you lose your stuff. That's just my opinion not advice.

Yup, you're correct, my bad...

So, OP, other folks can buy it here for $14-17....

Put the DVD's in a travel case (I wouldn't take the plastic cases for each movie) and you should be alright, assuming they're not all the same title.

I have purchased duty-free liquor and taken it through customs in my suitcase when I was under 21. It's illegal, but if anyone stops you with it, I'd use the excuse that it's a gift - I doubt anyone from customs will want to take the time or do the paperwork, then call a local police officer to write a summary citation for underage transport of alcoholic beverages.

So, yes it's illegal, but if you want to take the chance, I don't think it's very likely you'd get in a lot of trouble. Looking presentable and being polite when you clear customs wouldn't hurt, either.

The standard US Customs procedure when finding underage persons in possession of alcohol is to direct them to a nice friendly sink and politely ask said underage person if they are sure they would not like to voluntarily dispose of said alcohol themselves. Problem solved. Of course said person is free to not volunteer to dispose of the alcohol. But that of course would set in motion other remedies.

This knowledge was gained from great personal effort some years ago testing US Customs policy on under aged people with alcohol. In fact every possible loophole I could think of was tested. Some quite creative and clever. But none worked other than the fact that usually they don't look in your bag anyway. The policy towards middle aged adults with more than a liter of alcohol is remarkably similar.

I would definitely take the DVDs out of their holders and into a travel case. And you might be ok with the Absolut, but if you're going to risk it, couldn't you pick a better vodka? Belvedere, perhaps?

Or, if you really want to keep the DVDs, why not just mail them to your US address. Hell, mail the booze, too. Technically, it is not legal, but I'd put your chances at getting caught that way as much more slim. Just pad it before packing it. (Don't declare it on the customs tag, either).

Based on other threads on FlyerTalk (no personal experience), it seems like the consensus is that the DVDs are OK (i.e. the won't care) as long as you only have one copy of each title (personal use versus distribution).

The alcohol is not OK.

And are adults who are of age dumb enough to fall for this? If the CBP agent really wants to spend time calculating a few cents worth of duty, I say, go ahead.

I believe the US Customs limit is 1L (if you're over 21). But unless you get randomly searched, it won't be a problem. I know people who were under 21 and have brought a few liters of alcohol and thousands of dollars worth of pirated computer software through customs. Maybe one out of a hundred people get searched. (Anyone know what the number really is, as that's just a wild guess from my observations at CLT, ATL, and IAD a few times?) It would be stupid of me to advise you to break the law, but...