Is it possible to check in alcohol in luggage? How much alcoholic beverages can you carry in airplane luggage?

When traveling by plane, tourists often encounter situations where alcohol is confiscated from them during security checks before boarding. To avoid such troubles, you need to study the information regarding the transportation of alcoholic beverages in advance. The law does not prohibit the export or import of alcohol into Russia, but certain standards are established that cannot be exceeded.

How to bring alcohol to Russia

Each country has its own regulations and procedures for transporting alcoholic beverages. It is not prohibited to import such products into our country. But there are certain limitations that you need to know.

Limit for importing alcohol into Russia

One passenger can freely transport a maximum of 5 liters of alcoholic beverages into the territory of the Russian Federation and exclusively for their own use. Of them:

• 3 liters – duty free;
• 2 liters – for a fee (single customs rate – 10 euros for each additional liter).

Regardless of whether you are bringing alcohol in your hand luggage, from duty free or in checked luggage, the total allowed volume is 5 liters per person.

Persons over 18 years of age are allowed to carry alcohol.

Important! These restrictions apply to all types of alcohol, including beer. Individuals cannot transport more than 5 liters of alcohol in total, regardless of its strength and type.

It is necessary to take into account that alcohol is distributed according to the baggage principle for each person. That is, it will not be possible to carry 5–6 liters for two people in one bag. It is necessary to check in luggage for each passenger separately.

Rules for transporting alcohol in hand luggage

Of the 5 liters allowed, 1 liter of alcohol can be carried in hand luggage. And it doesn’t matter whether this alcohol was purchased in duty-free or not.

There is a rule for transporting any liquids in the aircraft cabin: the container volume should not exceed 100 ml. The total volume is no more than 1 liter. If you are bringing two 100 ml bottles of perfume, you have 800 ml left for alcohol.

Bottles taken with you to the salon must be sealed and packed in a plastic bag. The integrity of the packaging must be maintained until the end of the flight, since drinking your own alcoholic beverages on board is prohibited. You can easily be fined for this.

By Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 104 of July 25, 2007 “On approval of the rules for conducting pre-flight and post-flight inspection”, the carriage of alcoholic beverages with a strength of 24-70% in hand luggage is prohibited. However, according to the internal regulations of airlines, it is allowed to carry liquids in 100 ml containers in the cabin. In practice, no one checks the origin and strength of these drinks. But if possible, in order not to run into trouble, it is better to check such products in your luggage.

Rules for transporting alcohol in duty-free hand luggage

Alcohol purchased in the duty-free area is allowed into the aircraft cabin. In this case, the rule “1 passenger - 1 liter” remains, but the rule applies to the carriage of 100 ml containers. is cancelled. That is, you can buy a 750 ml bottle of wine and take it on board with you, and there will still be room in your hand luggage for two 100 ml bottles and one 50 ml bottle.

A bottle purchased in duty-free stores must also be sealed, packaged and delivered to the boarding point safe and sound.

Rules for importing alcohol in luggage

You can check in bottles in the quantity allowed by the norm for importing alcohol into Russia in 2018 as luggage if you see fit. There are no clearly established regulations regarding the volume of containers in which alcoholic beverages can be transported in the luggage compartment.

Alcohol must be certified and have a tax stamp. And also sealed.

It is very important to maintain the integrity of glass containers when the products are transported in luggage. Taking into account the fact that suitcases in luggage are often subject to careless handling, you need to take care of high-quality packaging in advance and take into account the following tips:

1. Use hard-sided suitcases. In a travel bag or soft-sided suitcase, there is a high chance that bottles will break, no matter how carefully you pack them.
2. Do not place glass containers on the sides of the suitcase.
3. Do not stack bottles next to each other.
4. Line glass containers with soft materials and place them in the middle of luggage to soften shock absorption.
5. Wrap the bottles in bubble wrap or place them in a plastic bag and seal with tape.
6. Do not pack heavy or hard objects near bottles.
7. Take care of the density of placement so that the bottles do not move along the way.
8. As a last resort, check your luggage containing alcoholic beverages separately as fragile.

Important! If you try to bring more alcohol into our country than is allowed by the rules for importing alcohol into Russia, the extra bottles will be confiscated.

What is prohibited to import into Russia

Typically, the requirements for imported products are more stringent than for exported ones. But each country has its own rules and regulations, so before you travel, check the regulations of the country you are flying to. You can import various alcoholic beverages of up to 70% strength into our country. The ban is imposed on the following types of products:

1. For alcoholic drinks with a strength of more than 70% (absinthe, moonshine, chacha, everclear).
2. For alcohol of our own home production.
3. For alcohol poured from the manufacturer's container into other bottles.

There are also contradictions on this issue. The rules of the Customs Union do not prohibit the import of non-industrial alcoholic products, but there is an indication that transported products must have a company label and an excise tax. Home-produced alcohol cannot meet these requirements. Therefore, theoretically, home-produced products can be transported on an airplane. But it's better not to take risks. If you want to enjoy local foreign spirits, it is better to do this while traveling, as problems may arise when transporting them to Russia.

Declaration for imported alcohol

If you are carrying more than 3 liters of alcohol with you, be prepared to declare the extra bottles. The declaration must be presented at the airport of departure. You can pick up the form at customs and fill it out on the spot, or download it from the Internet in advance and fill it out at home.

How the process works:

1. Arrive at the departure airport.
2. Check in for your flight and check in your luggage.
3. Go to customs control and present the declaration and related documents.
4. Pay the required amount.
5. Next, go through inspection.
6. After that, get on the plane.
7. Upon arrival in Russia, go through passport control along the red corridor and present your declaration to an authorized person.

Required documents

Along with the declaration, you will need to present the following documents to customs officers:

1. International passport.
2. A visa to Russia or a migration card (if you are a citizen of another state and you need a visa to stay in our country).

No other documents are required.

The document is filled out in block letters in two copies. One copy is handed over to customs officers, the second copy must be kept until the end of the flight. The document must indicate the following information:

1. Personal information.
2. Countries from and to where you are flying.
3. Are there any minor children flying with you?
4. Description of the declared goods.
5. Date.

Sample of filling out a declaration for alcoholic beverages.

Responsibility for violating the rules for transporting alcoholic beverages

Often people hope for luck and try to smuggle more alcohol than is allowed for import into Russia. Some may be lucky, but we should not forget that there is responsibility for such actions.

When airport employees record an excess of the norm, there are two legal options for the development of events:

1. A fine of 50 to 100% of the cost of the goods and confiscation of excess if alcohol exceeding the norm (2 liters) is not declared. That is, in this case, at best, you will have 3 liters left with you.
2. Confiscation of all goods is at the discretion of the control staff (if you were carrying 15 liters of alcoholic beverages instead of 5, 2 of which were declared, you may have all the goods confiscated for violating legal rules).

Thus, in any scenario, if deception on your part is detected, you will be confiscated (of all goods or surplus products). No fines or additional customs payments can be made after detection of exceeding the norms.

Restrictions on the export of alcohol from Russia

The legislation of the Russian Federation does not establish any restrictions on the export of alcoholic beverages. But at the airport you may be told that it is permissible to export only a certain amount due to the regulations of the country of arrival. Each country has its own rules and restrictions on the import of alcohol.

Important! When exporting alcoholic beverages from Russia, do not forget to take into account the luggage weight restrictions.

When exporting alcohol, do not forget to take into account the rules of the country of arrival. In some countries, the import of alcoholic beverages is not only prohibited, but also serious penalties. For example, you can import no more than 1 liter of alcoholic beverages into Thailand. For attempting to carry more than the limit, there is a fine of $1,000. And only non-Muslims can bring alcohol into the UAE.

Approximate limits on the import of alcohol in different countries are shown in the table below.

Here are the rules for duty-free import of alcoholic beverages, that is, without paying customs duties. Restrictions on imports in excess of the norm, which is subject to customs duties, must be clarified in each case individually.

Today, many aircraft offer alcoholic beverages on board. But this most likely applies to airliners carrying tourists. Some airlines prohibit the consumption of alcoholic beverages on board their aircraft.

It must be remembered that even if drinking alcohol is allowed, this only applies to drinks offered on board. Drinking your own drinks, even if purchased in duty free, is strictly prohibited.

In the cabin of the aircraft, alcoholic drinks can most often be purchased for an additional fee. Sometimes they are included in the ticket price and offered free of charge.

The flight attendant has the right to refuse to provide alcoholic drinks (both paid and free) if he has grounds for it (most often this is the passenger’s alcoholic intoxication). For rowdy behavior while intoxicated, fines or removal of the passenger from the flight are provided.

Conclusion

The legislation of almost all countries (with the exception of some) provides for the import or export of alcohol, so tourists can please themselves or loved ones with overseas strong drinks. However, it is worth remembering the limitations. Each country has its own laws, so you need to familiarize yourself with them in advance to avoid getting into an unpleasant situation. It would be a good idea to contact the airline before departure and check with the staff for the current rules for transporting alcoholic beverages.

There is no point in trying to smuggle in excess products, since if violations are detected, they will inevitably be confiscated. If you are carrying alcohol in excess of the duty-free allowance, you should take care of the declaration for products transported within the limits established by law.

Particular attention should be paid to the rules for flights with transfers. If you are allowed to import a certain amount of alcoholic beverages at one airport, they may be confiscated at another in accordance with the laws of the host country.

Many people have faced the need to transport alcohol while traveling by plane. It is taken by relatives and friends as a gift, a completed order, or for themselves. Some passengers prefer to bring alcohol into the cabin to drink for courage or to celebrate a vacation. To avoid various incidents, each airline has introduced restrictive regulations and bans on the carriage of certain products.

Knowing whether alcohol can be carried on an airplane and what requirements apply will help avoid misunderstandings with airline employees and airport services. This information can be found on the airline's website.

Norms and quantities of alcoholic beverages allowed in baggage

In the absence of a complete ban, adults may carry strong drinks in their luggage, taking into account the standards established by the air carrier. In this case, all transported alcohol is summed up, including those purchased at Duty Free. The permissible volume of transported alcohol is also limited by the weight of baggage applicable to the selected fare.

Passenger with a glass on an airplane

Important! In some countries, a person is considered an adult only at 21 years of age.

General rules for transporting alcohol in airplane luggage:

• less than 24% alcohol content - not limited;
• from 24% to 70% alcohol content - up to five liters per person;
• more than 70% alcohol content - transportation is prohibited.

The listed standards apply to the transportation of alcohol on an airliner.

These rules apply during a domestic flight, for example, when transporting alcohol on an airplane in Russia. If you are flying internationally, you must also comply with customs regulations. When customs regulations in the country of departure or arrival set more stringent limits, you must adhere to them.

Method of packing containers with alcohol in luggage

Before handing over containers of alcoholic beverages to the luggage compartment, care should be taken to maintain their integrity during the flight. To do this, you need to pack the bottles with plastic bubble wrap. To ensure that the glass does not break, each bottle should be wrapped individually.

You can also place your soft things between them. These simple measures may be enough to carry out 2-3 containers. In all cases, when checking in baggage with glass containers inside, it is recommended to check it out as fragile (glass).

Important! Transported alcoholic beverages must be in original, unopened packaging.

How to bring alcohol on a plane

Whether alcohol can be carried in hand luggage depends on the flight, the airline and country laws. For example, in Russia, passengers may be allowed on board with alcohol if provided for by airline rules. Thus, S7 airline does not allow you to bring alcohol with you, but Aeroflot does. There is no prohibition in the USA, provided that the alcohol was purchased at Duty Free in America.

Typically, non-hazardous liquids can be carried in hand luggage up to one liter per passenger seat. They must be in new original closed containers with a capacity of up to 100 ml, packed in a transparent bag, with a total volume of up to 1 liter - one bag per passenger. If two or more people are flying together, the liquids they carry do not add up.

Packing containers of alcohol in luggage

Important! It is necessary that the volume of the container, not its contents, be less than 100 ml. It is prohibited to carry alcoholic drinks in containers larger than 100 ml, even if the container is not completely filled.

Some airlines prohibit the consumption of alcohol on board if you bring it on the plane. Aeroflot will immediately confiscate them if a passenger starts drinking alcohol during a flight. At the same time, the company allows you to order drinks on the plane from a menu.

Alcohol from Duty Free. Rules

Those departing on an international flight have the opportunity to purchase drinks, including alcohol-containing ones, at duty free before departure, taking into account customs requirements. Duty Free drinks are allowed to be taken into the cabin, even if their capacity is more than 100 ml and after that there will be excess carry-on luggage.

Important! To transport alcohol from Duty Free in the aircraft cabin, bottles must be packaged and sealed in a bag with the store's branding. It is necessary to preserve the receipt and integrity of such packages until arrival at the final destination airport, including during transfers.

If an international flight involves transfers, you should first find out the customs restrictions of the third country and the airline (if it changes). It is better not to buy alcohol at Duty Free at the beginning of your journey outside the Schengen zone if you plan to connect in one of the EU countries, because... During customs control, the passenger may be required to transfer purchased alcoholic beverages to their luggage.

If you are taking an inexpensive flight or purchasing a ticket on a special offer, you should find out in advance the rules for carrying hand luggage and shopping from the air carrier's Duty Free. For example, on international flights of Pobeda Airlines, upon boarding, payment is required for carrying packages from Duty Free.

Restrictions on the transport of alcohol to countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the USA

Import of alcoholic beverages to Russia

Alcohol from Duty Free

Persons of legal age have the right to import from 3 to 5 liters of alcoholic beverages into the territory of the Russian Federation. The main condition is original packaging and labeling. This limit is set for all types of alcohol in personal luggage, including those from Duty Free.

You can import up to 3 liters of alcohol into Russia duty free. This restriction applies to pure alcohol and different types of alcohol-containing drinks (vodka, beer, champagne, etc.). The maximum allowable two liters over the established limit are subject to a duty of 10 euros per liter. Alcohol that has not been declared is subject to confiscation, and the violator is charged a fine, the amount of which may be twice the cost of the confiscated drinks.

Helpful information! If for some reason a traveler is unable to pay the duty for alcohol, he can leave it for paid storage.

Import of alcohol to the European Union (EU)

When entering the European Union from points outside the EU zone, passengers can freely import alcohol for non-commercial purposes without paying duties and other payments to the budget:

• 1 liter of alcohol-containing drinks with an alcohol concentration of up to 22%;
• 2 liters of alcohol-containing drinks with an alcohol concentration of up to 22%;
• 4 liters of wine;
• 16 liters of beer.

Customs regulations may vary in individual EU countries.

Import of alcoholic beverages into the United States of America (USA)

Travelers who are 21 years of age or older may import one liter of alcohol into the United States free of charge. Persons arriving from the Virgin Islands or other Caribbean countries may carry larger quantities. Alcoholic beverages carried in excess of the permitted limit are subject to duty and federal excise taxes, which will be assessed and collected at the airport of arrival.

Restriction on the import of alcohol

There is no maximum limit on the quantity of alcohol per person if it is imported for personal use. If too many are imported, customs officials may assume that the import is for commercial purposes and require the importer to obtain a license.

If you export liquor purchased at Duty Free to the United States, you will have to pay duty and federal excise tax.

Important! If the state of arrival has stricter rules, then adhere to them.

How to bring alcohol to the Maldives

In the Maldives, alcoholic beverages are prohibited for religious reasons. Small concessions have been made for tourists, but they do not apply to customs rules.

Before traveling, tourists are interested in how to bring alcohol to the Maldives and what restrictions apply in 2018.

Important! Legal import of alcohol into this country is still prohibited.

Citizens of other countries visiting the Maldives are able to purchase alcoholic beverages at resorts, hotel bars and restaurants, but are not allowed to import or export them. At the Maldives airport, all tourists' luggage is subject to thorough inspection after arrival. At the same time, all containers with liquids are checked for odor. Any alcohol brought is subject to confiscation by customs officers. The tourist will probably have to pay a fine of up to 500 US dollars.

Important! If a tourist attempts to illegally bring alcohol into the Maldives, he automatically becomes a criminal, a smuggler, and may be imprisoned in a prison cell.

Import of alcohol to the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The UAE enforces strict laws on the importation and drinking of alcohol in public places. A non-Islamic person may import up to 4 liters of alcoholic beverage or one box/24 cans of beer for consumption.

Customs rules for importing alcohol into the UAE

The limit on duty-free import of alcohol in each emirate has its own restrictions:

• in Dubai - 4 l. alcoholic drinks or 2 blocks of beer;
• in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah - 4 l. any alcoholic beverages;
• to Sharjah - 2 l. alcoholic drinks and 1 pack of beer.

How much alcohol can you bring into Thailand by plane?

Thailand has very strict requirements for importing alcohol. Violators face fines and possibly imprisonment. A maximum of 1 liter of alcohol per seat is allowed duty free. If this limit is exceeded, the alcoholic beverages are subject to confiscation and the passenger is subject to a fine of approximately US$1,000.

Many travel portals publish advice from “experienced” travelers on how to bring alcohol to Thailand in excess of the established limit. They argue that this is due to weak control of the contents of luggage at customs during their repeated trips to this country. But the lack of proper control on previous trips does not guarantee that there will not be a good check next time.

Import of alcohol to Turkey

For travelers flying to Turkey, there is no tax imposed on the import of 1 liter (or 1 bottle) of spirits or 2 bottles of wine (750 ml each) for travelers 18 years of age or older. Alcohol in excess of the duty-free limit will be sent to an airport storage facility. It can be returned when leaving the country within the next 3 months after paying for storage.

note! Return of alcohol is possible if the airport of arrival and departure is the same.

Alcohol packaging for transportation

Import of alcohol to Egypt

There are strict restrictions on the import of alcohol into the country. For persons over 21 years of age, Egyptian customs regulations allow free import of up to 1 liter of spirits and up to 2 liters of beer. It is allowed to bring in larger quantities, but for the excess you need to fill out a declaration, pay tax (3%) and excise duty (100%). Violators of these rules will face a fine of up to 3,000 times the cost of the drink.

Import of alcohol to Tunisia

Note! It is allowed to import 1 liter of strong alcohol (more than 25%) and 2 liters of wine or liquor (less than 25%) free of charge into Tunisia. Customs officers at Tunis Airport monitor this very carefully.

There is a special point in the rules for entry into Tunisia - there is no age limit for importing alcohol. Theoretically, this means that even a child can bring alcohol into the country within the duty-free limit. But you shouldn’t risk it, since complaints from tourists about the unceremonious confiscation of their alcoholic beverages by Tunisian customs officers have been published on various travel portals.

As can be seen from the above, restrictions on the transport of alcohol in aviation depend on several factors: the age of the passenger; airline rules; customs requirements of the state, as well as the concentration of alcohol in drinks and the type of alcoholic products. Before the upcoming flight, it is better to find out in advance the rules for transporting alcohol of your air carrier, the customs requirements of the countries of arrival and departure, as well as third countries if there is a transfer.

How to properly transport alcohol on an airplane

So, what is the correct way to carry alcohol on a plane? What in principle could happen?!... The first, not the most likely thing, is that your suitcase may disappear. Secondly, bottles can simply break in your luggage!

If we can’t do practically anything with the first one - what can we do, suitcases sometimes get lost, this is a fact and we have to come to terms with it 🙁 Unless we buy expensive, beautiful suitcases - thieves may be tempted by them (usually because of the suitcase, but not content). But we can influence the packaging and make sure that our wine arrives intact.

It is no secret that at airports suitcases are treated worse than bricks - they are thrown, thrown off conveyors, placed in piles two meters high, etc. Friends told many stories, many of them had their bottles broken. For example, one friend specifically borrowed a suitcase from friends before a trip and, returning home, put a bottle of red wine in it! As a result, not only did I feel sorry for the broken bottle, but all my things were ruined, plus I ruined someone else’s suitcase, so I had to buy a new one. I also have adventures - a suitcase was lost on the way from Madrid, and in it were two bottles of expensive vintage port!!! (If you are interested in port wine, read the article “”, by the way, there is a photo of one of these bottles). The suitcase arrived a week later, you could tell by the tags - it traveled from Madrid to Moscow, then back to Madrid, and only then came back to me! The handle was broken, one corner was pressed inward, and the leg and plastic edging of this corner were broken, but... the bottles were intact :)

So, my readers, I’ve probably tired you with stories and prefaces, let’s move on, in fact, to the issue of transporting alcohol on an airplane (other liquids), or more precisely, to packing tips:

– It is best to pack bottles in suitcases with hard walls or frames. Bags are more likely to be broken;

– Never place bottles near the sides of the suitcase, if possible, place them closer to the center;

– If there are several bottles, do not put them next to each other, they will definitely break one against the other. It is necessary to lay soft things between them. Equally, do not place it next to a heavy, hard object;

– Do not put many bottles in one suitcase and do not make it too heavy;

– Bottles of wine must be wrapped in soft things and there should be no free space in the luggage so that nothing moves during transportation;

– Before your trip, think in advance about what you will be transporting the wine in and consider packaging.

I’ll tell you more about the last point and share my experience. Any tourist to a greater or lesser extent “shops” when traveling abroad. Therefore, luggage on the way there is always less than on the way home. At home, when packing, it is always better to provide some free space in your suitcases, and you can fill it with some kind of ballast. The best way to pack bottles is bubble wrap, so that's what you need to take with you. You won’t be looking for film there and it’s a pity to waste time on it, but it’s not difficult to take it from home, and besides, there’s room. I recommend taking a small piece of tape for packaging.

Bubble wrap and tape

When packing for home, we wrap the bottles in film, in two or three layers, and secure them with tape. This does not cancel everything said above; we place the bottles wrapped in film in the middle of the suitcase and line them with things.

Bottles wrapped in bubble wrap

Thus, transporting alcohol on an airplane, or any other liquid, is not afraid of the most severe transportation, it has been verified! If you don’t have film with you, I think my article will still help with packaging and ensure the integrity of expensive wine.

If anyone has short stories on this topic, write!

Every connoisseur of quality alcoholic beverages may want to carry alcohol on a plane in the form of luggage. It is not necessary to drink alcohol; it is worth transporting it as a nice gift. Follow the rules of the Air Code, and your trip will leave only the most pleasant memories.

Requirements for transporting alcohol on an airplane

Each airline sets its own requirements for carrying alcoholic beverages on board. Don’t even hope for illegal transportation - airport staff carefully examine your luggage. If you trust the bureaucratic red tape to a tour operator, ask him what rules a particular carrier has regarding the transportation of alcohol. If you travel abroad on your own, you need to worry about such nuances in advance.

But not only the carrier makes demands, the country in which the plane lands also imposes its own restrictions. Which countries treat the transport of alcohol with great care?

1. It is unacceptable to transport alcohol to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
2. In the USA, it will be possible to transport no more than 1 liter of the valuable drink, and each bottle cannot be larger than 100 ml.

The key points for transporting cargo with degrees on board a ship in 2017 are:

1. The bottles must not be opened at the time of planting; the packaging must be original.
2. The carrier is not responsible for how containers with alcohol will survive the flight; this is a headache for the passenger.
3. If the alcohol is not labeled, for example, if it is a home-made product, violating the rules may result in confiscation of the bottle, plus you will have to pay a fine.

How much alcohol can be present in luggage?

Some tourists explain their desire to take alcohol on the road as a reason for panic, claiming that a flight is stressful, during which alcohol allows you to relax.

If you want to be allowed to bring a strong drink on board, adhere to measures in the volume of cargo and its strength. In most countries where Russians travel, the following rules apply:

1. Wine and beer with a strength of 24% are allowed to be taken in a volume of a couple of liters.
2. If we are talking about cognac and vodka with a strength of 24-70%, it is enough to purchase 1 liter.
3. If the label on a bottle states more than 70% alcohol strength, it is subject to confiscation; you will not be allowed to carry it in your luggage or carry-on luggage.

How to properly package alcohol

Bottles, even though they are made of thick glass, can still break. It’s unpleasant to find fragments in a suitcase, especially to sit in a puddle of alcohol on board a plane. To maintain the integrity of the packaging, experts recommend providing:

• place each bottle in film with external bubbles;
• you can take a special bag designed for bottled bottles;
• pack in such a way that alcohol in suitcases is placed away from heavy objects;
• the best option is to place the bottles in a bag with an absorbent effect (if liquid spills, the bag will absorb it);
• finally, give preference to expensive strong drinks (their manufacturers make sure that the alcohol is bottled in heavy-duty bottles);
• Particularly scrupulous travelers buy bags with waterproof characteristics, with volumes from 10 to 55 liters. But such a significant amount of hand luggage may alert airline employees; be prepared to pay a high fee.

What to do with alcohol from Duty free

After customs control has been passed, the passenger is invited to wander around the shops and purchase goods in Duty free. Here you can buy everything your heart desires at discounted prices. According to avid tourists, low prices for alcohol are set in stores located in the Caribbean islands and Puerto Rico. In London and Shanghai, rare alcohol is sold, with a luxurious combination of flavors, brands and varieties that are collectible.

There is no limit for alcohol purchased in Duty free. But if the volume is too large, you will have to pay for luggage, because since October 2017, free luggage transportation by airlines in Russia has been completely abolished. Moreover, it is not recommended to purchase alcohol if there are still several transfers ahead with a long wait for the next flight. Do not forget that you will have to carry strong drinks; it is not very pleasant to act as a porter on an already grueling flight.

Is it possible to drink alcohol on an airplane?

Permission to carry strong drinks on board the ship does not mean that they can be drunk in the cabin. The crew is not able to control the actions of each passenger. Therefore, especially skilled people manage to drink alcohol during the flight. Although the rules clearly state that this can be dangerous for the flight.

Don't tempt fate if you know you won't be able to stop in time. Consider the scientifically proven fact: low air pressure inside the plane helps to quickly thin the blood, and intoxication occurs almost instantly. Therefore, it is better to wait until the plane lands.

The consequences of such violations can be different - from fines to poor physical well-being.

One of the most popular “souvenirs” from abroad and Duty Free is alcoholic beverages. It's always nice to bring back good wine or tart cognac from a trip. However, for many connoisseurs, the confiscation of goods during inspection becomes an unpleasant surprise. How do airlines regulate the transport of alcohol and is it possible to bring alcohol on a plane?

Carrying alcohol on an airplane is permitted. The rules vary depending on the destination and the air carrier. Thus, Russian legislation applies on domestic flights. Foreign flights require compliance with the rules of the destination country.

Alcohol in hand luggage

For all types of liquids, there is a restriction on bringing on board a volume of no more than 100 ml in each container, including alcohol. This refers to the capacity of the bottle, but not the liquid itself. The total volume should not exceed 1 liter per passenger. Accordingly, you can carry no more than 10 bottles of 100 ml each. Follow this rule if you buy alcoholic drinks as small souvenirs.

In 2007, the Ministry of Transport adopted rules for pre-flight and post-flight inspection. According to the document, it is allowed to transport alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content from 24% to 70% in checked baggage. In other words, the possibility of bringing drinks of such strength into the cabin is excluded. Please keep this in mind when using domestic flights.

There is an exception to the norm for carrying 100 ml drinks as hand luggage - purchasing goods at DutyFree.

Alcohol from Duty Free

When purchasing products in a duty-free trade zone, the requirements are less stringent. It is allowed to take on board alcohol that meets the following parameters:

• bottles with a volume exceeding 100 ml;
• presence of original packaging, branded store icon;

How many bottles can you take on board from duty free if a large number fits into the carry-on baggage allowance? Country specific restrictions apply here. If a passenger returns to Russia, it is permissible to carry up to three liters of alcohol on board. Accordingly, this is 2-3 bottles.

Important! You cannot open the package or packaging of alcohol until the end of the flight.

If the route involves one or more transfers, consider the following rule: alcohol purchased outside the Schengen area is removed from hand luggage when crossing it and transferred to the luggage compartment.

The same rules apply in the United States. It is allowed to carry alcohol on board only those purchased in the American duty free zone.

When purchasing a ticket for a low-cost airline, you should pay attention to the conditions for carrying hand luggage for purchases from the duty-free zone. For example, on international flights of the Pobeda company you need to pay for a package from the airport store upon boarding. The same rules may apply when purchasing at a promotional rate.

You can buy alcoholic beverages at duty free only on international flights. There are no stores for Russian flights.

Pay attention to the safety of the packaging until the end of the flight. Otherwise, after landing you may be fined.

Alcohol in luggage

For 2019, the following requirements are imposed on the carriage of these products on domestic flights:

1. It is prohibited to transport alcohol with a strength of more than 70%. For example, absinthe, moonshine, Everclear;
2. Drinks with an alcohol percentage between 24 and 70% are permitted in volumes not exceeding 5 liters per person;
3. Alcoholic products with an alcohol content of less than 24% can be transported without restrictions, with the exception of age restrictions. In Russia, transportation is allowed upon reaching 21 years of age.

Rules for international flights will depend on each specific country. In a number of countries, the import of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited. The most frequently encountered rules can be identified. For example, for the European Union it is allowed to transport:

• 1L drink up to 70 degrees;
• 2L*22 degrees of strength;
• 4L wine drinks;
• up to 16L beer.

Each bottle packed in luggage must be individually wrapped and properly labeled, taxed and marked. It is prohibited to transport alcohol made at home or alcohol poured into containers third-party from the manufacturer.

Important! Parents are prohibited from carrying alcohol in children's luggage.

Drinking alcohol on the plane

There is no definite answer whether you can drink alcohol on an airplane, since it all depends on the airline carrying out the transportation. Some companies have a strict prohibition law, while others allow it subject to the purchase of drinks from the flight attendant. At the same time, the prohibition law is advisory in nature. No one will fine a passenger if he quietly drank a little alcohol and fell asleep. Sanctions are applied to passengers who exhibit violent and inappropriate behavior.

The regulations of most air carriers allow the removal from a flight of a passenger whose behavior went beyond normal limits and was clearly intoxicated. If there is a threat to the life and health of other passengers, the rowdy may be left at the nearest airport.

At Aeroflot you can use the bar offered by the flight attendant, but only on flights established by the airline. Keep in mind that the bar does not have a wealth of taste and selection.

At their discretion, crew members may prohibit a specific passenger from purchasing alcoholic beverages during the flight.

How much does alcohol cost on board?

Most often, passengers are offered products purchased by the airline in duty-free stores, so the cost of alcohol will be approximately the same as in the duty-free zone.

• Sheridans liqueur, 1L. Cost within 25 dollars;
• Czech liqueur “Becherovka Original” - $12.

Is alcohol included in the menu?

Depending on the category of ticket purchased, the price may include a small amount of alcoholic beverages. For the economy category, they will most likely offer 0.33 liter beer. In business class and first class, passengers will be served any alcoholic drink up to 250 ml.

How much alcohol can be exported and imported into different countries?

Parameters for importing alcoholic beverages into different countries:

To export products, one should be guided by the laws of the state to which the citizen is sent. If this is Russia, there is a restriction on the import of no more than 3 liters per passenger.

Advice! Check the customs rules and legislation of the country of interest when making international flights.

Information is available from tour operators, country representative offices, and airlines from which the passenger purchased the ticket.

How to pack correctly

There are no established standards among airlines for the packaging of transported alcohol. The main rule is to maintain the integrity of the bottle, so adhere to the following recommendations:

• do not place hard or heavy objects in a suitcase or bag next to the bottle;
• do not place bottles next to each other, pack clothes and soft items between containers;
• if the bottles are placed near the walls of the suitcase, there is a risk of the containers breaking during transportation: they will hit when moving;
• soft duffel bags are not reliable storage; hard-sided suitcases are better.

How to avoid unpleasant situations

It is not recommended to drink alcohol when traveling by air due to health risks. High atmospheric pressure contributes to rapid intoxication, after which oxygen starvation may occur. The harm caused by alcohol increases by 2-3 times during a flight. The passenger also runs the risk of experiencing slow breathing, so the risks should be assessed in advance.

Many travelers are confident that the most important thing is to pass inspection when leaving the country. They believe that after landing no one will check the contents of bags and suitcases. It is a myth. A number of countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives, check luggage at entry, monitoring their country's customs regulations. In these countries, the import of alcohol of any strength is prohibited.

Excess baggage

It happens that a passenger does not calculate the purchase of alcohol, exceeding the permissible baggage allowance. What rules apply in this case?

For excess weight, any air carrier charges an additional fee of 1.5% of the ticket price for each extra kilogram.

Example: ticket price is 500 EUR. In this case, for 1 kg exceeding the norm, the passenger will pay 7.5 euros.

If standards are exceeded

How do airlines regulate excess purchases of alcoholic beverages? There is a flat rate of 10 EUR for each liter of alcohol beyond the limit of three liters per person.

Example: a passenger bought 2 bottles of alcohol, 2 liters each, abroad, and then bought 3 liters of alcohol in duty free. In this situation, only 3 liters can be carried duty-free, since the total volume of drinks, 5 liters, exceeds the permissible limits. You will have to pay an additional fee. Please note that the measure concerns the import of products.

What to do if a passenger carries more than three liters of alcohol? It is necessary to fill out a customs declaration. It indicates the alcohol that the person intends to bring into the country. Next, the document is given to the customs officer. If the airport has a green and red corridor system, be sure to visit the red one before your flight.

Penalties and confiscation

What happens if employees record an excess volume of alcoholic beverages? The penalty for deliberate refusal to declare is provided for in Article 16.2 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offences.

According to the first part of the article, failure to comply with the law is punishable by a fine in the amount of ½ to 2 times the price of the goods that the violator intended to transport. Customs officers also have the right to confiscate excess products.