Bringing wine from the UK to the US

Hi all

My friend is getting married in April and I want to bring her back a bottle of local fruit wine and mead for her honeymoon--so two bottles total. I figured I'd just stick them in my checked luggage (carefully packed, of course!). I know they allow up to a liter of alcohol duty free, but I'm wondering if I would have to declare them? Anyone tried this?

Thanks!

I've schlepped booze all over the world.  Two bottles will be fine, and do declare it.  They might ask you questions about its origin (it's store-bought, right?  This is far less suspicious), but it's totally no big deal.

If you are under the limit, why do you have to declare it?

Vicky

Because they ask about food (and I think they ask about spirits) on the customs form.  I've always declared anything that falls into either category, even wrapped chocolates, biscuits and such.  Nobody's ever given me much hassle for declaring it, but it seems better than NOT declaring it and having them ask me about it later.

t's store-bought, right?  This is far less suspicious.

It's from the Lindisfarne Winery, but I'll probably buy it at Asda rather than drive to Holy Island.
http://www.lindisfarne-mead.co.uk/Default.aspx

Thanks for the info. I'll declare it just to be on the safe side. I once brought wine in from France when I was in HS, but I couldn't remember if I declared it or not.

But if you declare it as a gift (which looks to be the only way to declar it according to http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/sample_declaration_form.xml ) then you will end up paying duty on it!

If you leave it off the form and then, if asked, state it as personal property, there will be no duty.



Vicky

Hmm. Slightly confused now. It does say US residents are entitled up to $800 worth of goods duty free.

Okay, I am not going to claim to be 100 per cent sure on this.  I just thought that gifts were not exempt, but I absolutely could have the wrong end of the stick.

Vicky

I'm not sure about US customs either, really, but I could just declare it as personal property to cover my bases.

Hmm. Slightly confused now. It does say US residents are entitled up to $800 worth of goods duty free.

You are.  I've always claimed everything I bought abroad and listed it into categories of food, drink/spirits, miscellaneous gifts, and anything else that happens to be applicable, and I've never paid a cent of duty on any of it.  Better to declare the wine, in my opinion.

Better to declare the wine, in my opinion.

Cool, thanks. I always like to err on the side of caution!

You are.  I've always claimed everything I bought abroad and listed it into categories of food, drink/spirits, miscellaneous gifts, and anything else that happens to be applicable, and I've never paid a cent of duty on any of it.  Better to declare the wine, in my opinion.

Ditto

Not sure if it is different depending on the country you are coming from...but it has been no more than 6 bottles of wine in your luuggage allowed. And it still must be under $800.

It is always best to check your home state import laws.
http://www.naples.navy.mil/customs/wine.htm  this is a military site but has useful info for all ...

Thanks for the link. I'm only going to be brining in two bottles (not a lot of spare space or weight!) so hopefully I shouldn't have any problems.