Emily R asked:
I am flying from Spain to the US with some alcoholic gifts, and I am 20 years old. So it was legal for me to buy them in Spain but it’s not legal for me to have them in the US. So do I need to ship them home or can I put them in my checked luggage? Do I have to declare it?
Perhaps, you would be better off to buy non alcoholic gifts. What can Spain have that we don’t have here in the states. If you insist on taking the alcohol, drink it all just before you get on the plane while you’re still in Spain. I took a Carribean cruise several years ago and when we were headed to the last port in Puerto Rico, I had a big bottle of rum that was opened and barely touched. I drank the whole thing and hit Customs really, really drunk. I had also taken duty free booze for friends. Considering the difficulties in logistics, I’ll never do that again. Skip the grief……….drink it.
u dont have to declare it IF it is maximum 2 Liters of alcohol ; or 1 liter alcohol with 6 pack of beer or 1 liter alcohol with 1 liter wine or 2 liters wine or 2 6 packs beer. if it’s more than that u can claim it but chances are they’ll say u r allowed 2 and take it away. i’ve done this before and i’ve traveled 10 million miles. they’re not really worried about alcohol so much as they are guns, ammo, drugs really! other foods that arent allowed that could contain pests harmful to US soil or crops.
your age shouldnt be a problem. tell them your host family gave it to u as a gift and it was legal there. i REALLY dont think that customs will care at all that u are 20 and have a little alocohol. def put it in checked luggage and DEF put it in CENTER of suitcase wrapped really well around sweaters and shirts in a bag to act as a buffer.
put in a bag and then another bag first, then wrap it in a long sleeve shirt, etc to pad it. dont put it directly touching outside of your suitcase…. put a shirt under and on top of that! it should make it just fine. i’ve done this countless times. i’m 32 and been to 33 countries. it’s all good
By the book, you would have to be 21 to bring it into the USA. If you are traveling with someone over 21 it would not be a problem.
Odds are they would not care one bit about it at US customs. They are not looking to ID people for alcohol, they are looking for drugs and illegal importations. Even if they did catch you with it, they are not going to bust, they would probably confiscate it at worst. Especially if they knew you were coming from a place where it was legal to buy it.