Sending Vodka to the US

zenseeker

Can you legally post vodka from the UK to the US? Are there any laws that prohibit this?

I have googled and got mixed results

RFW

First you aren't allowed to send alcohol internationally via Royal Mail.
Second if you find a courier who will take it it could be a nightmare the other end, if it gets to leave the country. Best advice on that would be Customs.
Unless it's something extra special it probably isn't worth it.

You could try asking a specialist alcohol seller or look at one online and see how they go about it.

NIC26

http://www.ttb.gov/importers/personal_importation.shtml

The US Treasury website states, sending on one time basis for personal use is fine subject to usual customs duty. If sending on a commercial basis a permit is required.

shaun_from_Africa

First you aren't allowed to send alcohol internationally via Royal Mail

You can send it via RM provided that its alcohol content doesn't exceed 70%. This is the point at which it becomes classed as a flammable liquid and is therefore prohibited unless sent with a registered dangerous goods shipper.
70% alcohol by volume is far lower than just about all common spirits.

This is just for RM. Other countries may well have different regulations, so although RM will allow it, this doesn't mean than all countries will accept the alcohol when it is passed to them.

RFW

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

You can send it via RM provided that its alcohol content doesn't exceed 70%. This is the point at which it becomes classed as a flammable liquid and is therefore prohibited unless sent with a registered dangerous goods shipper.
70% alcohol by volume is far lower than just about all common spirits.

This is just for RM. Other countries may well have different regulations, so although RM will allow it, this doesn't mean than all countries will accept the alcohol when it is passed to them.

My mistake, RM have a list of countries they won't accept alcohol for.

NIC26

I looked at the Royal Mail list of prohibited items to post to the United States. On the prohibited list is:

Beverages, spirits and vinegar - all taxable, flammable, potable beverages of 5% alcoholic content by weight.

So previous advice wrong.

shaun_from_Africa

I was only addressing the point that stated:

First you aren't allowed to send alcohol internationally via Royal Mail.

That was a blanket statement saying that RM wouldn't accept alcohol for airmail, which isn't correct.
They will accept it for carriage to countries that allow it to be delivered by their own carriers.

It is the US that restrict alcohol in the post which is why I also mentioned that

This is just for RM. Other countries may well have different regulations, so although RM will allow it, this doesn't mean than all countries will accept the alcohol when it is passed to them.

NIC26

Sorry, I meant my previous advice wrong. What you said was 100% correct. Royal Mail / USPS have alcohol on their list of prohibited items to send to USA. Courier companies aren't clear, alcohol is on their restricted list (just say to check with customer services). If you want a definitive answer you could email dhl and see what they say, but cannot send through standard post.

shaun_from_Africa

I know very little about the subject, but I've never heard of a vodka that would be worth the extra cost of packing insurance, shipping and import duty to the USA when you consider that most alcoholic spirits are available and are far cheaper over there.
I could understand it if it was a rare or premium malt whisky as these can command premium prices almost all over the world.

martindow

Sorry if I have understood what you want to do, but it would be simpler and probably cheaper to buy on line from a US supplier and get it delivered locally.

trukdiver

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

70% alcohol by volume is far lower than just about all common spirits.

.

Where do you get your drinks from? :eek:

Most legal drinks have a much lower alcohol content than that!