Bringing Duty Free Spirits back in Plastic Bottles

Tim_Richmond

When we go on holiday we always purchase our duty free spirits in plastic bottles in the resort and then put them in our "Hold" luggage which is much lighter and safer than glass bottles. If the weight permits it we sometimes bring back 2 litres each in our hold luggage as within reason you can bring back any amount of spirits from EU countries except the Canary Islands. If we go to the Canaries we bring back 1 litre each again in plastic bottles purchased in the resort plus the remains of the bottle we have opened but not finished. we are not sure whether this is permitted but have never been stopped by Customs to put it to the test.There now seems to be much more variety for Spirits available in plastic bottles which is good news for the likes of us.

Kernow666

only a proper jobsworth customs person would cause a fuss i wouldn't see it as a problem even if you had 2 full litre bottles

AnneMarie4687

Yes Plastic bottles are much lighter to carry in your "Hold" baggage. I believe one litre will weigh 1 kilo in a plastic bottle and 1 and half kilos in a glass bottles. It is also less likely to break. We always buy our whisky and brandy in the resort in plastic bottles. the customs tend to be watch the Canary's flights a lot more closely but we have been known to bring back 3 bottles rather than two. Like you I do not know if you have opened a bottle and have drunk say 25% of the content whether this is permitted but maybe we will try that one.

pmramsay

I have done this a few times with wine and spirits brought back from greece. no problems just dont go over your limits

Dean'sDilemma

Bringing Spirits back in plastic bottles is much lighter and will be much safer than glass bottles in your hold baggage. If you coming back from the Canaries I cannot see Customs being a problem if in addition to your allowance you bring back a bottle that has been opened provided you have drunk say at least 25% of its content.

BillSnow

Yes you probably can take a chance on bringing back a three quarters full bottle of spirits from the Canary Islands. The worst the Customs officers are likely to do is take your details and give you a warning. Then if you were caught again it may be a different matter. I fully concur when coming back from Europe it is best to buy at the resorts.It nearly always cheaper than the airport. Then it should be purchased in a plastic bottle firstly for safely reasons and secondly it is half a kilo lighter in weight than a glass bottle. If you favorite tipple is not available in a plastic bottle then take one with you and transfer the contents from the glass bottle.

Keep_pedalling

What kind of gut rot comes in plastic bottles?

wolvoman

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

What kind of gut rot comes in plastic bottles?

This is what I'm thinking too.

The saving by buying outside the UK is only worthwhile on higher quality drinks which wouldn't be in plastic bottles anyway.

Spirits aren't exactly expensive in the UK (especially when you're only talking a litre or so).

phatbear

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

What kind of gut rot comes in plastic bottles?

i was flying home from budapest in dec and the vast majority of brands i looked at, absolut/smirnoff/bombay saphire/gordons etc etc came in both glass and plastic bottles

Moto2

BillSnow wrote: »

Yes you probably can take a chance on bringing back a three quarters full bottle of spirits from the Canary Islands. The worst the Customs officers are likely to do is take your details and give you a warning. Then if you were caught again it may be a different matter.

I've been stopped 3 times over the last few years with an extra unopened bottle from the Canaries.
They simply take it off you, leaving you with the allowance limit, nothing else has happened.

mgdavid

Moto2 wrote: »

I've been stopped 3 times over the last few years with an extra unopened bottle from the Canaries.
They simply take it off you, leaving you with the allowance limit, nothing else has happened.

slow learner?