Bringing wine through US customs in PHL

**kundabuffer** · 11-12-2011, 12:04 PM

I am currently in Paris and plan on bringing two bottles (1.5 liters, technically a measly .5 liters over the duty free limit so I suppose I should declare it?) back to Philadelphia. According to the US Customs website, customs agents also enforce state laws. Is this really the case? And if so, wouldn't that mean that everyone returning to PHL as port of US entry would have to give up all their liquor regardless of their final destination (anyone could surreptitiously hand the booze off to someone else in Philadelphia before continuing on with the next leg of their journey). Does anyone have any experience with this? They're not cheap bottles and I don't want to lose them.

**Polar Cub** · 11-12-2011, 12:21 PM

I brought booze into PHL, and there was no customs agents enforcing anything at PHL, that I noticed. I did stay within the duty-free limit though, and you were allowed to carry it onboard with you back then. Pre-911.

**arjay** · 11-12-2011, 12:26 PM

I recently came back from Mexico carrying 4 X 1 liter bottles of booze. Brought them on board. Not a sniff at US Customs here.

**Marc** · 11-12-2011, 12:36 PM

I have come home consistently over allowance, declared it (better than not and getting busted) and haven't paid a dime. Had the same experience with minor overages in other categories also. The only thing I've ever had confiscated was aged smoked meat (also honestly, if not foolishly, declared).

**five apples** · 11-12-2011, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by kundabuffer

I am currently in Paris and plan on bringing two bottles (1.5 liters, technically a measly .5 liters over the duty free limit so I suppose I should declare it?) back to Philadelphia. According to the US Customs website, customs agents also enforce state laws. Is this really the case? And if so, wouldn't that mean that everyone returning to PHL as port of US entry would have to give up all their liquor regardless of their final destination (anyone could surreptitiously hand the booze off to someone else in Philadelphia before continuing on with the next leg of their journey). Does anyone have any experience with this? They're not cheap bottles and I don't want to lose them.

So I have done this exact thing many times in my life, including bringing back highly illegal non-pasturezied cheese. I have never declared it, in the case of the cheese they will take it, and I have never had any problems. But the officers are there, and my mom once got busted doing this. So it is a gamble.

**kundabuffer** · 11-12-2011, 01:03 PM

But unpasteurized cheese is illegal by federal standards. This is a different issue. Everyone: if you are responding to this thread please know what you are talking about!

**five apples** · 11-12-2011, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by kundabuffer

But unpasteurized cheese is illegal by federal standards. This is a different issue. Everyone: if you are responding to this thread please know what you are talking about!

F U douche, I am well aware that it is illegal by Federal Standards and I don't know how you read my post and don't get that. I offered you some advice, I have brought many bottles of wine through customs in my life, and I have never had a problem. I mentioned that in my post too.

**AbortedWalrus** · 11-12-2011, 01:53 PM

If you are not traveling alone you can put one of the bottles in your travel companions name. Hell, when my parents traveled with us hey used to put the alcohol in our names so they could bring more back and customs never seemed to have an issue with it.

**five apples** · 11-12-2011, 01:55 PM

Also, if you do bring back wine, put it in your carry on, the storage hulls are frequently not heated and it gets very cold in them and that will damage the wine.

**caga tio** · 11-12-2011, 02:09 PM

You cannot carry liquids onto flights coming into the US unless it was purchased in duty free. I have brought back wine and liquor from Europe, all of which were packed in my suitcase and declared, and have had no problems.

**five apples** · 11-12-2011, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by caga tio

You cannot carry liquids onto flights coming into the US unless it was purchased in duty free. I have brought back wine and liquor from Europe, all of which were packed in my suitcase and declared, and have had no problems.

Right, that is true now. I forgot about that change, that is in fact why last time I just brought the cheese back. Years ago, I did put wine in my suitcase, and I did feel it suffered a bit from it.

**Gladys** · 11-12-2011, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by caga tio

You cannot carry liquids onto flights coming into the US unless it was purchased in duty free. I have brought back wine and liquor from Europe, all of which were packed in my suitcase and declared, and have had no problems.

thank you that's what i was thinking, you can't carry liquids on planes any more you have to put it in your suitcase. and if that were the case and it was good wine. ship it home UPS or something to be sure.

**loveisnoise** · 11-13-2011, 08:42 PM

I waited and bought my paris wine at the airport. They put it in a bag and seal it with security tabs. If you got it at a shop, then I'd recommend just getting it shipped home to yourself. You can put it in your luggage, but you risk it being broken or taken out.

**loveisnoise** · 11-13-2011, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by Gladys

thank you that's what i was thinking, you can't carry liquids on planes any more you have to put it in your suitcase. and if that were the case and it was good wine. ship it home UPS or something to be sure.

Missed this... what Gladhand said!

**kundabuffer** · 11-14-2011, 11:25 PM

I got through fine: I asked the lady by the inspection places if I had to have them examine it or whatever and she asked me if it was worth over $800. It wasn't, so she just told me to go on to the "nothing to declare" line. Once there the guy I gave my card to didn't even look at the back of it.

So I guess just declare it on your card and then apparently no one gives a crap.

**hubba1** · 11-15-2011, 12:20 AM

Originally Posted by Gladys

thank you that's what i was thinking, you can't carry liquids on planes any more you have to put it in your suitcase. and if that were the case and it was good wine. ship it home UPS or something to be sure.

you can dump it into a whole bunch of tiny travel size mouthwash bottles...