Bringing alcohol into the US
Jan 4, 2011 | 8:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 238
Bringing alcohol into the US
Apologies if this is the wrong forum but I figured my question was pretty general.
Anyway, having never flown into the US before, I was wondering what the import restrictions are for bringing alcohol into the US (specifically avoiding paying duty). I have been trying to use the TSA's and CBP's websites for the last half hour and both have proven utterly useless.
I am also interested which rules also apply for cigars. Obviously I cannot bring any Cubans with my but I just how many am I allowed?
Anyway, having never flown into the US before, I was wondering what the import restrictions are for bringing alcohol into the US (specifically avoiding paying duty). I have been trying to use the TSA's and CBP's websites for the last half hour and both have proven utterly useless.
I am also interested which rules also apply for cigars. Obviously I cannot bring any Cubans with my but I just how many am I allowed?
Jan 4, 2011 | 8:55 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,456
Here's your website:
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/va...aying_duty.xml
It looks like you can bring in 1 liter of alcohol and 100 cigars duty-free, but read the page in its entirety. They also mention that various states might have state laws that are more restrictive than federal laws. You should check the state laws, as well. You will be concerned with the state in which you first touch down in the US, which is where you will go through Customs, as well as the final destination state.
Having said that, others might offer more specific advice from their own experience. I don't drink alcohol, nor smoke. I'm only looking at the CBP website for info.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/va...aying_duty.xml
It looks like you can bring in 1 liter of alcohol and 100 cigars duty-free, but read the page in its entirety. They also mention that various states might have state laws that are more restrictive than federal laws. You should check the state laws, as well. You will be concerned with the state in which you first touch down in the US, which is where you will go through Customs, as well as the final destination state.
Having said that, others might offer more specific advice from their own experience. I don't drink alcohol, nor smoke. I'm only looking at the CBP website for info.
Jan 5, 2011 | 2:35 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 76
I never bought anything duty free in the aiports themselves, but I have taken bottles of alcohol home in my checked luggage without any problems at all.
Oh, and the cuban cigar thing, I brought them back in my carry on luggage from Colombia and didn't face any problems.
Oh, and the cuban cigar thing, I brought them back in my carry on luggage from Colombia and didn't face any problems.
Jan 5, 2011 | 10:34 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 238
Here's your website:
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/va...aying_duty.xml
It looks like you can bring in 1 liter of alcohol and 100 cigars duty-free, but read the page in its entirety.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/va...aying_duty.xml
It looks like you can bring in 1 liter of alcohol and 100 cigars duty-free, but read the page in its entirety.
I was planning to check them as well but I figured I would still have to claim them on whatever form they ask us to fill out.
Jan 5, 2011 | 10:59 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,456
Thanks for the link, though that seems to deal with US residents returning with items from travels overseas rather than visitors (me) bringing the same items over the border. Would I be correct in presuming that the same restrictions still apply?
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/unit...rica/duty-free
This is not an official site, but it does agree with the 1 liter of alcohol and 100 non-Cuban cigars mentioned in the official CBP site.
The site does specifically mention a prohibition on Cuban-origin cigars, regardless of the country of purchase. A PP poster who mentioned Cuban cigars in his checked luggage is officially a smuggler.
Jan 5, 2011 | 11:40 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: TAS
Programs: A3*G, UA 1K
Posts: 9,250
It all depends on where you're flying into. Look at state laws -- they determine how much you can carry. If you're carrying anything over 1L, you need to declare it, however the duty is quite small, so you probably won't need to pay anything, but DO DECLARE IT. I've been told by CBP at SFO that they don't really care about alcohol as long as it's declared if it's over 1L/pax.
Jan 5, 2011 | 12:13 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 238
As for the Cuban cigar issue, I have read of many ways of getting around the embargo but I figured discussing them here would not go over so well. Nonetheless, thanks for the help and advice!
And if it helps any, I will be flying and staying in the ATL area.
Jan 5, 2011 | 12:17 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
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Posts: 8,179
While it's true that the traveler must comply with any state laws for the state in which they're entering, generally speaking, US Customs will not enforce state laws, and only care about the federal duty limits on alcohol. With the one exception being...
... that no importation is allowed for travelers under 21, since the drinking age in all states is 21. As to the above situation, it's the same as the Cuban cigar situation: it's called smuggling. I don't think the OP was asking about how easy it would be to smuggle undeclared goods in through Customs without getting caught, but rather was asking on what the duty-free allowance was.
... that no importation is allowed for travelers under 21, since the drinking age in all states is 21. As to the above situation, it's the same as the Cuban cigar situation: it's called smuggling. I don't think the OP was asking about how easy it would be to smuggle undeclared goods in through Customs without getting caught, but rather was asking on what the duty-free allowance was.
Jan 5, 2011 | 12:22 pm
#11
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Join Date: Nov 1999
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Unless the liquor isn't available in the U.S. state you are visiting and it is really special, you might want to check local price and availability first. Some U.S. states do make it expensive and difficult to buy liquor (e.g., WA and PA) but it is cheap and readily available in others (e.g., NV, HI and CT).
Jan 5, 2011 | 12:33 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2007
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That is correct, but the application of the law by customs will be at their discretion. I've been camping numerous times between 18 and 21 years of age from Montreal to upstate NY, often we brought beer into the US by land. Sometimes we'd be asked if we had any beer/etc, we would always answer honestly. We never got any confiscated, and we were usually told "just be good and don't drive if you drink". "Yes sir!".
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... that no importation is allowed for travelers under 21, since the drinking age in all states is 21. As to the above situation, it's the same as the Cuban cigar situation: it's called smuggling. I don't think the OP was asking about how easy it would be to smuggle undeclared goods in through Customs without getting caught, but rather was asking on what the duty-free allowance was.
Jan 6, 2011 | 1:00 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: MKE
Posts: 63
That is correct, but the application of the law by customs will be at their discretion. I've been camping numerous times between 18 and 21 years of age from Montreal to upstate NY, often we brought beer into the US by land. Sometimes we'd be asked if we had any beer/etc, we would always answer honestly. We never got any confiscated, and we were usually told "just be good and don't drive if you drink". "Yes sir!".
HTSC
HTSC