Food & Beverages

Spirits & liquor

Restricted

Tight per-traveller allowance; declare over the limit.

Allowances, tax rates and age limits vary by destination, and the official customs authority makes the final decision on entry.

Check this item with AI View country rules

Visual reference

Reference images are being added for this item.

What this means

Spirits and liquor are distilled alcoholic drinks such as whisky, vodka, gin, rum and tequila, usually with much higher alcohol content than wine or beer. Most countries allow only a small duty-free quantity per adult traveler and charge duty and tax above it, with higher-strength drinks often taxed more. You normally must declare all alcohol you carry.

What's included

Whisky, bourbon and scotch
Vodka, gin and rum
Tequila and mezcal
Brandy and cognac
Liqueurs and cordials
High-proof or cask-strength spirits
Duty-free shop bottles

What's not included

Wine, including fortified wine (see wine)
Beer and cider (see beer)
Pure laboratory or fuel ethanol (industrial chemical)
Alcohol-based perfume (see perfume)

Common types & examples

Standard spirits (under ~40% ABV)
Whisky, vodka, gin; the typical category for the 1-litre-type spirits allowance.
High-proof / cask-strength
Higher alcohol can mean higher duty and, at extreme proof, possible dangerous-goods limits for air travel.
Liqueurs and cordials
Lower-strength sweetened spirits; may fall under a different sub-limit than strong spirits.
Duty-free purchases
Counted toward your destination allowance even though bought tax-free at the airport.
Homemade or unlabeled distillate
Often scrutinized; lack of labeling and commercial quantities raise concerns and may be refused.

Why it's regulated

Distilled alcohol carries excise duty and tax, so amounts over the duty-free allowance are dutiable, with stronger products often taxed at higher rates. It is also an age-restricted controlled product subject to local import limits.

Typical allowance

Provisional only: many destinations allow roughly 1 litre of spirits duty-free per adult (for example the EU and the US 21+ exemption), while the UK allows around 4 litres of spirits over 22% ABV; limits and tax vary by destination.

Provisional — confirm with your destination

Before you travel

Documents you may need

Customs declaration form
Purchase receipts / invoice for value
Proof of age
Proof of personal use for larger quantities

Next steps

1.Check the duty-free spirits allowance for your destination
2.Declare all spirits, including duty-free bottles
3.Keep receipts to show value if over the allowance
4.Confirm the legal import age before buying
5.Expect higher duty on stronger, higher-proof bottles

Official sources

Customs Duty Information· U.S. CBP
Rules for carrying alcohol and tobacco when entering the EU· European Union (Your Europe)
Bringing goods into the UK for personal use: Arriving in Great Britain· UK Government (GOV.UK)

Always verify with the official authority for your destination.

Country-specific rules

The default posture above applies worldwide. For the exact rules at your destination, check the country guide.

View country rules →