Below is a summary of alcohol limits and associated duties and
taxes one can bring into the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, and
between two EU countries:
Country
Alcohol
Type
Duty-Free
Limit
Duty & Tax
Above DutyFree Limit
USA
Wine
1 Liter (34 o.z)
$0.35-$2 / bottle
Total Limit
none as long as for
personal use
none as long as for
Sparkling
1 Liter (34 o.z)
$1-$3 / bottle
Beer
1 Liter (34 o.z)
$0.35-$1 / bottle
personal use
none as long as for
personal use
Spirits
1 Liter (34 o.z)
$2-$3 / bottle
Wine
1.5 Litre
$2.50 / bottle
none as long as for
personal use
Canada
Alberta
45.45 Litres (any
type)
45.45 Litres (any
Sparkling
1.5 Litre
$3.75 / bottle
Beer
8.5 Litre
$0.34 / Litre
Spirits
1.14 Litre
$5.00 / Litre
type)
45.45 Litres (any
type)
45.45 Litres (any
type)
85% min
BC
Wine
1.5 Litre
$1.83/bottle max
45 Litres (any type)
$12.75/bottle
85% min
Sparkling
1.5 Litre
$1.83/bottle max
45 Litre (any type)
$12.75/bottle
Beer
8.5 Litre
55% min $1.13 /
Litre
45 Litres (any type)
150% min
Spirits
1.14 Litre
$13.19/Litre max
45 Litres (any type)
$40/Litre
Ontario
Wine
1.5 Litre
Sparkling
1.5 Litre
Beer
8.5 Litre
Spirits
1.14 Litre
39.6% of pre-VAT
value
39.6% of pre-VAT
value
$0.676 / Litre
59.9% of pre-VAT
value
45 Litres (any type)
45 Litres (any type)
45 Litres (any type)
45 Litres (any type)
10.5 Litres
Quebec
Wine
1.5 Litre
66% of pre-VAT
(12x750ml bottles)
value
without going
through SAQ
10.5 Litres
Sparkling
1.5 Litre
72% of pre-VAT
(12x750ml bottles)
value
without going
through SAQ
17.5 Litres
(12x750ml bottles)
Beer
8.5 Litre
$0.40 / Litre
without going
through SAQ
10.14 Litres
Spirits
1.14 Litre
124% of pre-VAT
(12x750ml bottles)
value
without going
through SAQ
Australia
Brazil
Wine
2.25 Litre
Sparkling
2.25 Litre
Beer
2.25 Litre
Spirits
2.25 Litre
Wine
Sparkling
49% of pre-VAT
none as long as for
value
personal use
49% of pre-VAT
none as long as for
value
personal use
49% of pre-VAT
none as long as for
value
personal use
49% of pre-VAT
none as long as for
value
personal use
12 Litres (& up to
50% of excess
$500USD pre-
value above
VAT value)
$500USD
12 Litres (& up to
50% of excess
none as long as for
personal use
none as long as for
Beer
$500USD pre-
value above
VAT value)
$500USD
12 Litres (& up to
50% of excess
$500USD pre-
value above
VAT value)
$500USD
12 Litres (& up to
50% of excess
$500USD pre-
value above
VAT value)
$500USD
personal use
none as long as for
personal use
none as long as for
Spirits
personal use
50% of pre-VAT
China
Wine
Sparkling
Beer
12% alcohol)
value after duty-free
limit
none as long as for
personal use
1.5 Litres if above
50% of pre-VAT
none as long as for
12% alcohol)
value
personal use
unlimited (if below
12% alcohol;
none; part of your
overall duty-free
import limit
none as long as for
personal use
1.5 Litres (if above
50% of pre-VAT
none as long as for
12% alcohol)
value
personal use
Wine
unlimited
unlimited
Sparkling
unlimited
unlimited
Beer
unlimited
unlimited
Spirits
Hong Kong
1.5 Litres if above
none as long as for
personal use
none as long as for
personal use
none as long as for
personal use
Spirits
1 Litre (if above
23 HKD / litre
30% alcohol)
Japan
Wine
3 x 750 ml bottles
Sparkling
3 x 750 ml bottles
Beer
3 x 750 ml bottles
Spirits
3 x 750 ml bottles
personal use
150yen per bottle
none as long as for
(750ml)
personal use
150yen per bottle
none as long as for
(750ml)
personal use
150yen per bottle
none as long as for
(750ml)
personal use
225-450yen per
none as long as for
bottle (750ml)
personal use
up to 3 Litres (if
Norway
Wine
not combined with
other excise
27 Litres (for
NOK 45 / bottle
up to 3 Litres (if
Sparkling
other excise
27 Litres (for
NOK 45 / bottle
up to 5 Litres (if
Beer
other excise
goods)
simplified customs
declaration)
goods)
not combined with
simplified customs
declaration)
goods)
not combined with
none as long as for
27 Litres (for
NOK 20 / litre
simplified customs
declaration)
4 Litres (for
Spirits
1 Litre
NOK 115-325 / litre
simplified customs
declaration)
Mexico
Singapore
South
Africa
Wine
6 Litres
Sparkling
6 Litres
Beer
6 Litres
Spirits
3 Litres
Wine
2 Litres
Sparkling
2 Litres
Beer
2 Litres
Spirits
1 Litre
Wine
2 Litres
90% of pre-VAT
none as long as for
value
personal use
90% of pre-VAT
none as long as for
value
personal use
90% of pre-VAT
none as long as for
value
personal use
90% of pre-VAT
none as long as for
value
personal use
S$88 per litre of %
none as long as for
alcohol
personal use
S$88 per litre of %
none as long as for
alcohol
personal use
S$76 per litre of %
none as long as for
alcohol
personal use
S$88 per litre of %
none as long as for
alcohol
personal use
20% of pre-VAT
value
20000 ZAR (1800€)
20% of pre-VAT
Sparkling
2 Litres
20000 ZAR (1800€)
value
Beer
2 Litres
20% of pre-VAT
20000 ZAR (1800€)
value
20% of pre-VAT
Switzerland
Within EU
Spirits
1 Litre
Wine
5 Litres
20000 ZAR (1800€)
value
1.50 CHF / bottle
none as long as for
personal use
Sparkling
5 Litres
1.50 CHF / bottle
Beer
5 Litres
1.50 CHF / bottle
Spirits
1 Litre
15 CHF / Litre
Wine
90 Litres
Sparkling
90 Litres
Beer
110 Litres
tax varies by EU
country
tax varies by EU
country
tax varies by EU
none as long as for
personal use
none as long as for
personal use
none as long as for
personal use
-
-
country
Spirits
10 Litres
tax varies by EU
-
country
Important! Disclaimer:
All the info provided above is to the best of our knowledge. We do not take any responsibility for the
accuracy and topicality of the info and rates. Please take it as guidance only. It is best to check with your
airline and government's customs office for the latest regulations.