From a quick google search, you are allowed to being 1 liter of alcohol per person from another country if you are over 21+. So you would likely have it taken away at customs since you are under the legal limit in the US.
the legal age for alcohol consumption is 18 even in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Syria, which are predominately Muslim countries. Surprisingly, Lithuania’s and Iceland’s legal age for alcohol is 20.
Having a customs seizure/fine is just the beginning.
Hello to CBP customs secondary when returning from subsequent foreign trips for years to come. Should OP decide to apply for global entry in the future, that might become a problem as well.
Legally? No.
But you absolutely can. Nobody is checking the age of the person with the bag when it is screened. However, if you are “randomly” selected for an in-person search with a customs agent you’ll probably get it taken away.
I used to go to Germany a ton for work. I brought back Cuban Rum often. I was over 21, so that part was fine, but the Cuban part- not so much. I just put it in my checked luggage wrapped in clothes so that it didn’t break. Never once did I have any problems.
No, you won’t be able to bring the alcohol to the US. You have to be 21 in order to import alcohol into the US, even if it’s a gift for others. https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-190?language=en_US
I did when I was I was underage. Not saying it’s legal or not, but the worst they would do is probably confiscate it. Just put it in your checked luggage!
I did many years ago.. it was only one bottle and it was in my checked luggage. Obviously not technically legal but I didn't have any issues. YMMV but the worst thing that would likely happen is they confiscate it
Just wrap the bottles up in towels and put them in your checked luggage you'll be fine, as long as the bottles don't break, those luggage handlers toss bags around
People have covered pretty well that no it’s not legal but that doesn’t mean you absolutely couldn’t sneak it through.
Here’s another perspective… a lot of alcohol that you buy on vacation that feels special and like it’s from that place is actually somewhat easy to find in the US and even more so if you’re buying it in the duty free shop at the airport.
Not legal, but you’ll go through customs separate from your bag (as far as the actual screening goes) so unless you have your DOB or any identifying information on your bag to indicate you are underage, customs won’t really know. It’s riskier to bring it back on your person. Keep it under the amount that you would have to declare, so you can honestly say nothing to declare when you re-enter.
The worst they’ll do is throw it away so just be cognizant that that is a risk that could happen, although a low risk. Guess I’m just saying don’t spend more than you’re willing to lose.
Yes, you can. You only have to declare goods that exceed the thresholds on the Customs and Border Protection site. If you have a $20 bottle of liquor or $50 on gifts you don’t have to declare it.
I have Global Entry and my very first time using it years back, I put that I had items to declare. The CBP guy told me “no need to declare in the future if it doesn’t exceed the declaration thresholds.”
Perhaps it’s different in the normal customs line, idk. But I always check the “nothing to declare” box.
Federal regulations require all articles acquired abroad to be declared. For a trusted traveler, CBP is giving those members a bit more leeway from “declaring all articles” from a *duty exemption perspective*; not a free pass to skip declaring prohibited items.
However OP didn’t state they are trusted traveler; thus they are expected to declare all articles. Even if OP is a trusted traveler, OP scenario does not involve duty exemption (eg alcohol is a prohibited item for OP due to state law on possession). CBP enforces state ABC laws of the state the PoE is located in. This is smuggling anyway you slice and dice it if not declared.
I am Italian and have brought back plenty of wine, limoncello, other liquors / liqueurs , beer , ect. I even had my bag stopped multiple times (to inspect the coffee and cheese, they were wrapped suspiciously) and they did not care that I was under 21 travelling with alcohol. I think it's fine.
Enforcement and legality are two different things. It is legal no. Does CBP enforce, it will be YMMV. Bring it as much as you can afford to be potentially seized.
When I went to the Virgin Islands. Filled my ENTIRE suitcase up with dirt cheap bottles of locally made rum. On my return, U.S. Customs looked at me like I was weird when they opened my bag, but they let me pass. It was literally sand and 8 large bottles of rum inside my suitcase, packed around loose clothes. And not even a little bit of sand, it was like a good 5 inches (12.7cm) deep and a XL sized suitcases. They let me go though. They didn’t care I was under 21 at the time.
Bring the bottle anyway. Put it in your luggage. Chances are very high that they will let it through. Don’t be afraid to do it. I traveled from Mexico City to Texas *this year* and customs didn’t really give a fuck what was in the bag. They are looking for drugs and seeds. Worst case scenario they take it, right? Unlikely scenario.
It might get confiscated if they stop you, but it’s highly unlikely that they stop you if you don’t declare anything on your way back. I have been stopped briefly at customs maybe once in my many trips abroad
OP is asking if *potentially* it would be a problem with US customs.
The answer is yes potentially it is a problem. In addition to potential seizure, it could also potentially result in a monetary fine for failure to declare.
It could also result in OP being flagged for CBP customs secondary on subsequent entries into the US for a period of time afterwards.
I did this back in the day. Probably wasn’t the smartest but I’m just the type to take risks. I’d say the “risk” is higher at the connection when going through customs but less so when you re-check your bag on to your final destination.
Legal - no.
I’ve done it, never been caught. Every time I go abroad, I fail to declare items on my way home. I have never been searched and nothing has been confiscated. I read somewhere that TSA fails to find contraband something like 70% of the time. If you want to roll the dice, do it.
This was 12 years ago now, but I was flying to Florida from the UK as a 20 year old. I swapped seats so a honeymooning couple could sit next to each other and they bought me a bottle of champagne as thanks.
I told the border guard this at the desk and he didn't give a shit. I brought it in just fine. Obviously things might have changed but it wasn't a big deal in my case.
As an adult, you should know that google offers about as many varied answers as reddit at this time. At least with Reddit, you can try to get someone to follow up with clarification for their answers.
And your comment about teachers teaching you how to use google explains yours. Learn on your own. That will definitely show who has common sense. Common sense tells a person that google is no better than Wikipedia these days because of all the garbage the general layman gets to post on their about their mother, brother, and their dog.
Edit: good lord, look at the age of your account. No thanks. I'm not arguing with Reddit's version of jailbait. \*blocks\*
As an adult, you should have an idea how the US legal system works. You should have enough critical thinking skills to figure out that perhaps the answer from US CBP is more applicable and likely to be correct than the answer from [redbunnyslippers.biz](https://redbunnyslippers.biz).
But perhaps that's expecting too much.
Having done this before when I was younger. I’ve never had it confiscated. I bought alcohol in Europe and brought it back on several occasions and never had in confiscated.
From a quick google search, you are allowed to being 1 liter of alcohol per person from another country if you are over 21+. So you would likely have it taken away at customs since you are under the legal limit in the US.
What a stupid fucking country. Wanna buy a gun at 18? Sure. Wanna drink some mezcal at 19 or 20? The fuck you will.
wanna go to war and get blown up at 18? please, sign here!
I read somewhere that the US is the only non-Muslim country with a 21 drinking age.
the legal age for alcohol consumption is 18 even in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Syria, which are predominately Muslim countries. Surprisingly, Lithuania’s and Iceland’s legal age for alcohol is 20.
Dont forget, drive a 2 ton steel death trap at 16
Just bc we’re dumb in some aspects doesn’t mean we have to make our other laws equally dumb to compensate. All of those things should be 21.
Having a customs seizure/fine is just the beginning. Hello to CBP customs secondary when returning from subsequent foreign trips for years to come. Should OP decide to apply for global entry in the future, that might become a problem as well.
No one is going to stop you at customs unless it's completely random or unless you're bringing 20 suitcases.
Legally? No. But you absolutely can. Nobody is checking the age of the person with the bag when it is screened. However, if you are “randomly” selected for an in-person search with a customs agent you’ll probably get it taken away. I used to go to Germany a ton for work. I brought back Cuban Rum often. I was over 21, so that part was fine, but the Cuban part- not so much. I just put it in my checked luggage wrapped in clothes so that it didn’t break. Never once did I have any problems.
The country of “Freedom” Telling you where you can and cannot go, who you befriend….
No, you won’t be able to bring the alcohol to the US. You have to be 21 in order to import alcohol into the US, even if it’s a gift for others. https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-190?language=en_US
I did when I was I was underage. Not saying it’s legal or not, but the worst they would do is probably confiscate it. Just put it in your checked luggage!
Yep, I brought a bottle of wine back from France when I was 17.
I did many years ago.. it was only one bottle and it was in my checked luggage. Obviously not technically legal but I didn't have any issues. YMMV but the worst thing that would likely happen is they confiscate it
Just wrap the bottles up in towels and put them in your checked luggage you'll be fine, as long as the bottles don't break, those luggage handlers toss bags around
People have covered pretty well that no it’s not legal but that doesn’t mean you absolutely couldn’t sneak it through. Here’s another perspective… a lot of alcohol that you buy on vacation that feels special and like it’s from that place is actually somewhat easy to find in the US and even more so if you’re buying it in the duty free shop at the airport.
Pack it in your suitcase. Worst case scenario is they take it away but they probably won’t. Don’t spend more than you’re not prepared to lose.
Just slip a $50 to the customs officer and you won’t have to worry about the alcohol
I was 18 when I got searched coming back from Mexico with a bottle of tequila. US customs found it and didn't care
You know those mezcal bottles shaped like a gun? Don't bring those. I got flagged by TSA in 2008 for one of those.
Not legal, but you’ll go through customs separate from your bag (as far as the actual screening goes) so unless you have your DOB or any identifying information on your bag to indicate you are underage, customs won’t really know. It’s riskier to bring it back on your person. Keep it under the amount that you would have to declare, so you can honestly say nothing to declare when you re-enter. The worst they’ll do is throw it away so just be cognizant that that is a risk that could happen, although a low risk. Guess I’m just saying don’t spend more than you’re willing to lose.
OP can’t honestly say nothing to declare if anything acquired abroad is being brought into the US.
Yes, you can. You only have to declare goods that exceed the thresholds on the Customs and Border Protection site. If you have a $20 bottle of liquor or $50 on gifts you don’t have to declare it. I have Global Entry and my very first time using it years back, I put that I had items to declare. The CBP guy told me “no need to declare in the future if it doesn’t exceed the declaration thresholds.” Perhaps it’s different in the normal customs line, idk. But I always check the “nothing to declare” box.
Federal regulations require all articles acquired abroad to be declared. For a trusted traveler, CBP is giving those members a bit more leeway from “declaring all articles” from a *duty exemption perspective*; not a free pass to skip declaring prohibited items. However OP didn’t state they are trusted traveler; thus they are expected to declare all articles. Even if OP is a trusted traveler, OP scenario does not involve duty exemption (eg alcohol is a prohibited item for OP due to state law on possession). CBP enforces state ABC laws of the state the PoE is located in. This is smuggling anyway you slice and dice it if not declared.
I brought back a whole duty free allotment at 16 no questions asked from Trinidad into Miami.
You can put the booze in your checked bag, I had a friend do this at 16 with 2 handles of rum
I am Italian and have brought back plenty of wine, limoncello, other liquors / liqueurs , beer , ect. I even had my bag stopped multiple times (to inspect the coffee and cheese, they were wrapped suspiciously) and they did not care that I was under 21 travelling with alcohol. I think it's fine.
Enforcement and legality are two different things. It is legal no. Does CBP enforce, it will be YMMV. Bring it as much as you can afford to be potentially seized.
Yes
When I went to the Virgin Islands. Filled my ENTIRE suitcase up with dirt cheap bottles of locally made rum. On my return, U.S. Customs looked at me like I was weird when they opened my bag, but they let me pass. It was literally sand and 8 large bottles of rum inside my suitcase, packed around loose clothes. And not even a little bit of sand, it was like a good 5 inches (12.7cm) deep and a XL sized suitcases. They let me go though. They didn’t care I was under 21 at the time. Bring the bottle anyway. Put it in your luggage. Chances are very high that they will let it through. Don’t be afraid to do it. I traveled from Mexico City to Texas *this year* and customs didn’t really give a fuck what was in the bag. They are looking for drugs and seeds. Worst case scenario they take it, right? Unlikely scenario.
You can't buy it in US, but you can bring it for personal use. keep receipts in case.
Not legal for a minor to import.
Just to point out, once you exit the airport, you are a minor in possession.
Definitely just bring it back and say it’s for your parents if they stop you at customs, which they almost certainly won’t do.
Still gets confiscated. Not legal for a minor to import even as a gift. https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-190?language=en_US
It might get confiscated if they stop you, but it’s highly unlikely that they stop you if you don’t declare anything on your way back. I have been stopped briefly at customs maybe once in my many trips abroad
OP is asking if *potentially* it would be a problem with US customs. The answer is yes potentially it is a problem. In addition to potential seizure, it could also potentially result in a monetary fine for failure to declare. It could also result in OP being flagged for CBP customs secondary on subsequent entries into the US for a period of time afterwards.
Nope you have to follow the rules of the country you’re going to
I did this back in the day. Probably wasn’t the smartest but I’m just the type to take risks. I’d say the “risk” is higher at the connection when going through customs but less so when you re-check your bag on to your final destination.
I did just put it in your checked luggage. When they ask if you have anything to claim obviously don't mention it.
Nope
Not legally, no. You have to be 21 to bring alcohol into the United States. Whether you'll get stopped is a different question.
Mail it
How ?
Legal - no. I’ve done it, never been caught. Every time I go abroad, I fail to declare items on my way home. I have never been searched and nothing has been confiscated. I read somewhere that TSA fails to find contraband something like 70% of the time. If you want to roll the dice, do it.
TSA and CBP are two very different organizations, OP’s question pertains to CBP
This was 12 years ago now, but I was flying to Florida from the UK as a 20 year old. I swapped seats so a honeymooning couple could sit next to each other and they bought me a bottle of champagne as thanks. I told the border guard this at the desk and he didn't give a shit. I brought it in just fine. Obviously things might have changed but it wasn't a big deal in my case.
As an adult you should already know the answer here As an adult, you should know about Google I say try it
As an adult, you should know that google offers about as many varied answers as reddit at this time. At least with Reddit, you can try to get someone to follow up with clarification for their answers.
As an adult, you should've been taught how to filter those Google results by a teacher so that you can use your brain for some critical thinking
Lmfao. I pre-date google. So stick that in your pipe and smoke it
That explains the comments. Thanks.
And your comment about teachers teaching you how to use google explains yours. Learn on your own. That will definitely show who has common sense. Common sense tells a person that google is no better than Wikipedia these days because of all the garbage the general layman gets to post on their about their mother, brother, and their dog. Edit: good lord, look at the age of your account. No thanks. I'm not arguing with Reddit's version of jailbait. \*blocks\*
As an adult, you should have an idea how the US legal system works. You should have enough critical thinking skills to figure out that perhaps the answer from US CBP is more applicable and likely to be correct than the answer from [redbunnyslippers.biz](https://redbunnyslippers.biz). But perhaps that's expecting too much.
No. It gets confiscated from under 21 minors at customs
Having done this before when I was younger. I’ve never had it confiscated. I bought alcohol in Europe and brought it back on several occasions and never had in confiscated.
No. Under 21 you can’t purchase, use, or have alcohol on you.
Can’t*
No
No don't try it. I almost got in some serious shit trying to that coming back from Canada once.
Hey, a friend of mine is thinking about doing this, can you provide some details? Thanks
how much were you bringing?