Wine?

[Emma]

OK, this may sound strange, but I was wondering about the legality of me bringing wine back into the US. I know that there is a limit of two bottles, the problem is that I'm only going to be 20. Am I still allowed to bring in a few bottles as presents, or am I going to have to think of something else?

[MuvverRussia]

I'm 99% sure that you'll have to be 21. Then again, I doubt you'd be stopped- I took 4 litres of Absolut with me to Norway (you have to be 20 to buy hard liquor- I'm 19 btw-, also it's incredibly expensive) and didn't get stopped.

[LHR02]

Emma, I don't think it will be a problem at all. Normally they barely even glance at liquor unless you have cases and cases of it. My son brought back 4 bottles of booze from a cruise we took to the Carib and he was 19 at the time.....no one gave him, or it, a second look.


That said though.....I just went and looked at the Customs web site and found this:

Alcoholic Beverages: One liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be included in your exemption if:


You are 21 years old.
It is for your own use or as a gift.
It does not violate the laws of the state in which you arrive.

Federal regulations allow you to bring back more than one liter of alcoholic beverage for personal use, but, as with extra tobacco, you will have to pay duty and Internal Revenue Service tax.


So......you could possibly have it confiscated but were it me...based on many previous trips, I would chance it. I've never seen anyone pay a darn bit of attention to booze and even less to your age.

[Stu]

I have to agree with the others. I doubt you will be stopped or questioned about it. I went with a group of friends last spring break to Germany and we brought back numerous bottles of hard to get German liquor. We were worried because none of were even close to 21 but we didn't have a problem. Don't take my word for granted, but I far as I know, if customs does catch you with it, they will usually just pour it out and give you a lecture. So I say go for it!