Transiting US with more than 1L of booze
 

I'm flying to Mexico for 2 weeks on Sunday. In my packed luggage I have a 4L box of wine. Is this going to cause any issues with US Customs at YYZ? Do I declare it and hope I don't get a power-mad idiot or do I just keep quiet? Last time we transited the US and did the pre-clearance at YYZ, we ended up with a secondary Customs inspection because we had a grapefruit that we were honest about. :rolleyes:

Edit: I'm allowed to bring 6L into Mexico.

Declare it, and if they want they can charge your duty. Unlike grapefruits, wine is not restricted by agriculture. It is only limited to 1L for duty-free. Anything above that 1L they can charge you duty for, but they will let it in if you pay. Duty on wine should be just over $1 per bottle, so for the whole $3 or $4 they would collect it's not worth their paperwork hassle and they will probably just let you through.

Declare it. Chances are pretty good they will just waive you through, but if you are picked for a secondary and they find it and you did not declare it, well that's a different story.

As the others said, declare it.

I once declared 2L at JFK and the customers inspector looked at my form for all of about half a second and said "Have a nice day" and that was that.

Where are you connecting? If it's someplace where the local restrictions prevent you from bringing in six bottles of wine in the form of a 4 liter box, there may be problems, as local laws will be enforced at those locations.

You may luck out at YYZ, I can't picture them checking your boarding pass to see where you are going and looking it up in a table to see if it's a more restrictive state or not, but it's something to be aware of just in case.

I'm flying YYZ-DFW-CZM.

Texas is one of the more restrictive states, but you will be OK with 4 liters, they allow non residents one gallon of wine/spirits combined.

Thanks so much! ^

It hadn't even occurred to me that different states would have different restrictions--they're still more generous than Canada! LOL

If they're sticklers, this could actually be an issue--4 L = 1.056688.... gallons, so it would be slightly above the one-gallon limit.

The Federal duty-free allowance on importation of alcohol from Canada is still 1L. But, I routinely bring 2-3L in and have only been charged duty once in the past few years. I just get waived through. Although the US does not have "transit" as a technical legal matter, the fact that you won't be consuming in the US may also cut in your favor as a matter of the inspector's discretion. I would definitely not omit it.

The OP shouldn't have an issue w/quantity in Texas because there's no int'l arrival there.

I've arrived in the US many times w/overlimit (wine and spirits) - and I just write it down on the form, such as 2 bottles pisco, 3 bottles wine, etc.

The potential issue isn't a Texas official or CBP searching bags upon arrival to Texas, rather that CBP can (and sometimes does) enforce state laws on alcohol importation (see snip from the CBP website below).

Although OP is going through pre-clearance in Canada, CBP is pre-clearing him/her for entry into the US via Texas, so they do have the authority to enforce the Texas regulation. I do agree that it is much less likely that a Canada-based CBP agent will check the destination state's regulations and decide to enforce them, as opposed to a CBP agent based in that state. Based on what I've heard from people entering int'l to SLC, even then the enforcement of Utah law is spotty, but it does happen. So, while its fairly unlikely, there is a chance OP will have this come up during preclearance.


Please be aware that State ABC laws govern how much alcohol a person may import into their state without a license and those laws are enforced by CBP.

Wouldn't the OP actually be clearing US customs in Toronto, and not just a pre-clearence? Assuming the luggage is being checked through to the final destination in Mexico couldn't one argue that no wine is being imported into the US? I guess one can argue anything though :)

CBP calls it "preclearance" (link) because you clear before departure rather than after arrival. It's the same process as "clearing" customs.

Agreed-declare it (and if you have to pay "duty", it is not going to be that much [and much less than "getting caught" and having to pay a fine])