Bringing Duty Free Spirits back in Plastic Bottles

London50

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.

As the Canary islands are NOT part of the EU laws regarding drink/tobacco ect they are classed as such therefore over the legal limit of "duty free" will be removed when you return to the UK.
I have many times brought over the limit back from there but it is a risk you take and these days the customs are hot on flights back from the islands.

London50

mgdavid wrote: »

slow learner?

Without a doubt

Moto2

mgdavid wrote: »

slow learner?

Hell no

Just playing the odds
I've passed through without being stopped many, many more times.

dickydonkin

wolvoman wrote: »

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).

This.

I don't even bother with 'Duty Free' anymore and if I do purchase alcohol while on my travels, it will be something unique to the destination or a product that is unavailable in the UK.

I just cannot be hassled to worry about bottles of booze breaking or lugging them all the way home just to save a few quid per bottle.

Duty free shops used to be good value, but now they are just a big con. I am all for an outlet making a profit, but if you see what tobacco and alcohol costs with the duty removed, you can see how much profiteering goes on.

I just stock up when the supermarkets have special offers on champagnes and spirits - and leave the duty free alcohol for the wealthy Chinese and Russians.

Gloomendoom

On the odd occasion I've bought duty free, I just carried as cabin baggage.

Other than methylated, I never seen spirits for sale in plastic bottles anywhere.

London50

Gloomendoom wrote: »

On the odd occasion I've bought duty free, I just carried as cabin baggage.

Other than methylated, I never seen spirits for sale in plastic bottles anywhere.

Many of the supermarkets and small shops in Tenerife that sell spirits have them in plastic bottles but I have never found them at the airport.
Before 9/11 all drink bottles as far as I know on the island were glass but I think that they caught on that weight in a suitcase/breakages gave them the idea that plastic ones were lighter and less prone to breakage.

Semple

Theoretically speaking, i wonder if you could have 1 litre of spirits in your hold luggage, and then purchase 1 litre of spirits at the airport for your hand luggage. (Assuming outside of the EU - so 1 litre of spirits per person). Unless doing a random check, customs wouldn't know that you've purchased an additional 1 litre of spirits and thus taking it over your import allowance.

Ballard

Semple wrote: »

Theoretically speaking, i wonder if you could have 1 litre of spirits in your hold luggage, and then purchase 1 litre of spirits at the airport for your hand luggage. (Assuming outside of the EU - so 1 litre of spirits per person). Unless doing a random check, customs wouldn't know that you've purchased an additional 1 litre of spirits and thus taking it over your import allowance.

Isn't that exactly the same as buying two bottles and putting both in the hold luggage?

I recently bought two bottles of sparkling red wine in Australia just because it was unusual (and very nice). They were safe and sound in my hold luggage and didn't get picked up in Hong Kong where they put me over the limit.

Edit: they were blooming heavy, though. about 1.5Kg each.

London50

Semple wrote: »

Theoretically speaking, i wonder if you could have 1 litre of spirits in your hold luggage, and then purchase 1 litre of spirits at the airport for your hand luggage. (Assuming outside of the EU - so 1 litre of spirits per person). Unless doing a random check, customs wouldn't know that you've purchased an additional 1 litre of spirits and thus taking it over your import allowance.

You can do that but you then just hope that you are not stopped at customs, depending on the area you are flying back from {I can only say re the Canary islands} customs seem to ear mark those flights for a more in depth treatment. Over the years both with drink and tobacco I admit I have brought back more than the limit and have been very lucky as even once when stopped they did not find the tobacco {only for personal use,10 packs over the limit} but its a chance you take. These days I personally do not take the chance but am lucky enough to travel 4/6 times each year so even keeping within the limit I can still have a smoke and a drink without running out before I travel the next time:)

leylandsunaddict

Semple wrote: »

Theoretically speaking, i wonder if you could have 1 litre of spirits in your hold luggage, and then purchase 1 litre of spirits at the airport for your hand luggage. (Assuming outside of the EU - so 1 litre of spirits per person). Unless doing a random check, customs wouldn't know that you've purchased an additional 1 litre of spirits and thus taking it over your import allowance.

It makes no difference. You are still only allowed 1 litre from outside the EU. Your choice whether to exceed the limit or not. Customs are definitely doing a lot more checking on flights from the Canaries.