It's just a little booze ;-;

[absolutedestiny]

OK, this sucks.

What You Can Bring In--Every visitor more than 21 years of age may bring in, free of duty, the following: (1) 1 liter of wine or hard liquor; (2) 200 cigarettes, 100 cigars (but not from Cuba), or 3 pounds of smoking tobacco; and (3) $100 worth of gifts. These exemptions are offered to travelers who spend at least 72 hours in the United States and who have not claimed them within the preceding 6 months. It is altogether forbidden to bring into the country foodstuffs (particularly fruit, cooked meats, and canned goods) and plants (vegetables, seeds, tropical plants, and the like). Foreign tourists may bring in or take out up to $10,000 in U.S. or foreign currency with no formalities; larger sums must be declared to U.S. Customs on entering or leaving, which includes filing form CM 4790. For more specific information regarding U.S. Customs, call your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, or contact the U.S. Customs office at tel. 202/927-1770 or www.customs.ustreas.gov.

So, I'm only allowed to bring in 1 litre of alcohol. Does that mean that anything more than a litre will be taxable or will that extra be taken away from me or what?

It's taken me all morning to find out this information - everything else seems to be geared towards US travellers who are returning to the states.

So, doe anyone know what would happen if I was stopped at customs with a bottle of whiskey and 3 bottles of wine?

Comments

[aluminumstudios.livejournal.com]

I'm not really sure ... I'd assume they might make you pay some kind of tax or duty on the alcohol, I don't think they'd take it away from you.

I was worried when I came back from Canada because I got stopped at border and grilled really hard about the things I bought and I'm American!

Good luck with it. Sorry I won't be there to drink any of your alcohol :(

[kusoyaro.livejournal.com]

>who have not claimed them within the preceding 6 months.

O_O That's complete bullshit. Who comes up with these rules and why??

>So, doe anyone know what would happen if I was stopped at customs with a bottle of whiskey and 3 bottles of wine?

Honestly? There's probably a good chance they'll get confiscated...all but 1 liter, I guess. I've read about some scandals recently where the airports have actually made a profit selling confiscated items.

[stealthhe.livejournal.com]

airports have no problem confiscating ANYTHING...especially alcohol...

and everything must be sealed as well...or they'll pour it all out in front of you...it's heartwrenching :*(

Take It Anyhow

[wednesday]

Declare it on your little form and go straight to a customs officer (NOT one of the ones at the front of the line, but one of the guards who will be milling around) when you get to the airport to explain your situation. Be nice, but British. They may tax you (it shouldn't be that much for the quantity; bring a receipt and point out the pre-VAT value if they start asking), but if you're forthright about what's going on (and if it's pretty obvious that you're just going to drink it with your friends), it shouldn't be too much of a problem. They might not even pull you aside when you go through the line.

Basically, not declaring entitles them to seize and fine as they choose; declaring means taxation, since it's not illegal to bring in wine and whiskey.

Customs and INS at airports are not like the Canadian/US border control guards. They are looking for gross abuses, the classic street drugs, and agricultural concerns like fruit and foot/mouth carriers. My experience with US customs in this context has been about as pleasant as could be expected for such a situation, and this has always been expedited by forthrightness with the officials. (I'm still amazed that carrying the wrong passport for my accent doesn't cause more problems.)

If you were making this trip by bus or train from Canada, my advice would be completely different. Border guards are much scarier at major crossings.

Also: seriously consider buying your whiskey at the duty-free if you're going through Heathrow; they're having sales on some very nice single malts right now, and were giving out samples at nine in the morning. XD

[absolutedestiny.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the advice.

The thing I'm majorly concerned about is that I have to go through customs in washington. The flight is "direct" as in the same flight goes from heathrow to orlando but it stops in washington and I have to go through customs at my first entry point.

For this reason, I don't really want any unnecessary delays as it could really mess things up.

[wednesday]

How much time do you have at customs? I have a hard time believing that the airline would not have taken this sort of minimal delay into consideration when planning the stop time. (And what airline are you on?)

It won't actually take too long if you go to the customs agents first. Seriously.

[absolutedestiny.livejournal.com]

I haven't been told how much time there is at customs - the flight schedule doesn't classify it as a stop (it's just noted), probably because everyone else will just be sat there waiting for it to take off again.

It's United Airlines, btw. Never flown with them so I've no idea if they are any good.

I will declare the booze at customs. I dont mind paying duty on it, it's much more preferable to losing them altogether.

Given the above I think I'll take the Talisker, the two Musars and see what they'll let me have. Given the option I think I'd probably keep one of the musars simply because single malts are easily obtainable from most places whereas Lebanese wine isn't.

[dwchang.livejournal.com]

I'm probably out of the loop, but why not just go on an alcohol run while down here. I imagine we'd do it anyway...then again I'm *guessing* you must have some 'rare' alcohol or something you wanted to share (shrug).

[absolutedestiny.livejournal.com]

Well, it's not exactly rare, but it's all nice stuff that isnt commonly bought in the majority of places... and I have it already.

Sure, I can and probably will buy stuff when I'm out there but why should I when I have a veritable liquor store of my own? :)

[dwchang.livejournal.com]

Y'know the more I find out about you guys...the more I think JACON is going to be one giant 3-day bender...then again it'll be fun :).

[kusoyaro.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm still not sure if nopictures is going. If he's there, the drinking starts at like 2 PM. If not, I personally generally like to wait til at least after dinner :P

[dwchang.livejournal.com]

After Dinner? Bah. At ACen the drinking started at 1 P.M....had to get "ready" for Iron Chef :-P (as per *your* advice haha)

[bigbigtruck.livejournal.com]

I came back from London with a load of beer, cheese, tea, and assorted cubanos things about 6 years ago, but no telling what customs is like now...