Can I carry alcohol in my luggage? New customs rules for the import of alcohol. How to deal with alcohol from Duty free

Perhaps, the question: “how much alcohol can you carry on the plane in your luggage” is one of the most relevant among travelers. Many tourists, after watching Hollywood films, are sure that alcoholic drinks can turn any flight into a small romantic adventure. However, in practice, things are much more prosaic. Sometimes the control service reserves the right not to let the passenger on board, to withdraw the available alcohol or to demand payment of a fine.

Baggage tag

First of all, you should decide how you plan to transport alcohol. Someone hands in alcohol to the luggage compartment, someone decides to take it with them because of fears about the safety of fragile luggage. Some passengers are rescued by alcohol from their fears of air travel. Be that as it may, you will need to correlate your desires with the requirements of transportation.

In order not to waste your nerves, it is best to carefully read the rules of the selected air carrier a few days before departure. There you can always find complete information on how to carry alcoholic drinks on board, and whether it is permissible at all. Usually, the list of these rules can be freely viewed on the official websites of the airlines.

Alcohol transportation standards within the Russian Federation

Those who are tormented by the question of whether it is possible to carry alcohol in the luggage on the plane, when dealing with domestic airlines, can be calm. This method of transporting hot drinks is the simplest and most affordable. The following transportation standards are currently relevant:

• passengers over 21 years of age can carry an unlimited amount of alcoholic beverages, provided that their strength is less than 24 degrees;
• one adult passenger can carry no more than 5 liters of alcohol with a strength of 24-70 degrees;
• the Aeroflot company prohibits the transportation of drinks with a strength of 70 degrees and more.

Summarizing the above information, we can conclude that restrictions on the carriage of alcohol through the territory of our country apply only to its strength and the total size of the luggage.

It should be borne in mind that often the transportation and baggage claim is not done very carefully, and quite often bottles with alcohol break. In the absence of obvious traces of damage on the suitcase or bag, you should not even count on compensation for losses.

Airport staff always carefully examine baggage

Customs regulations

Customs regulations governing the transportation of alcoholic beverages to foreign countries vary. It all depends on where the traveler is flying. You can familiarize yourself with the rules from the tour operator organizing the trip or directly from the airline employees.

The countries of the European Union have established uniform requirements for the transportation of alcoholic beverages. Passengers can carry one of the following:

• one bottle of any alcohol by strength;
• 2 liters of drinks with a strength of 22 degrees;
• 4 liters of wine products;
• 16 liters of beer drinks.

Even if alcoholic beverages are purchased outside the EU, and the transplant is made in one of the countries of the Union, then alcoholic beverages will be withdrawn. To reassure our tourists, I would like to add that most of the European countries have always been famous for the most exquisite and high-quality wine and beer drinks, so anyone can enjoy their taste to their fullest during their trip.

If we talk about how much alcohol can be carried on the plane in the luggage compartment, returning from abroad to Russia, then in connection with the entry of our state into the customs union, the following rules began to apply:

• the total volume of transported drinks must not exceed 5 liters(everything else is subject to immediate withdrawal);
• up to 3 liters of alcohol can be transported without paying a customs fee;
• for the transportation of another 2 liters of alcoholic beverages, you must pay customs duty.
  It is allowed to export from Russia only one liter of alcoholic products, the strength of which exceeds 22 degrees, and another 2 liters of drinks, the percentage of alcohol in which is less than 22.

Egypt is one of the most popular tourist destinations among our compatriots. Therefore, it should be noted separately how much alcohol can be imported into the territory of this state. Our compatriots can take 1 liter of drinks with a strength over 22 degrees and another 2 liters of weak products (up to 22 degrees).

Another important point: alcohol is always transported exclusively in its original packaging!

How to carry alcohol on a plane in carry-on baggage

All countries try to ensure maximum safety during flights. Therefore, there are certain rules governing the carriage of liquids in carry-on baggage. Of course, alcoholic beverages fall into this category, and their transportation takes place subject to compliance with these rules.

Passengers are allowed to take only 100 grams of liquid with them in an undamaged factory container. For packaging containers, it is necessary to use transparent plastic bags with zippers. You can rest assured that the integrity of the packaging will be checked during planting. The established rules, of course, are particularly strict, but it is they that guarantee our safety with you.

"Special" rules for alcohol from Duty Free

Surely all travelers have heard about the famous Duty Free shops, which carry out customs-free trade and delight tourists with rather tempting retail prices. Typically, these stores are located right at the airport.

There are practically no restrictions on alcohol purchased here. First, there is no limit to the number of bottles that can be carried on the plane. Secondly, it is allowed to carry this alcohol in hand luggage.

For everything to go smoothly, a simple rule must be followed: the purchased products should be carried packed in special branded bags, which should not be printed until the moment of landing.

Duty Free is a paradise for lovers of quality alcohol

Drinking alcohol on board

This problem worries a large number of people. You can find out whether it is allowed to drink on board or not only from the airline employees or on its official resource. Some airlines have a strict prohibition law. Whereas flights allow the purchase of alcoholic beverages directly from the flight attendants. But immediately get ready for the fact that the assortment is unlikely to please with variety. In addition, airline employees can always refuse to sell alcohol to a passenger if they feel such a need. Do not forget that some airlines operate All Inclusive flights. Of course, the cost of such air tickets is much higher.

Drinking alcohol in the air should be done with caution.

Other pitfalls

Many travelers are sure that the main baggage check is carried out only when leaving the country, and after landing, the contents of your bags will not bother anyone. It's a delusion. Some countries, for example, the UAE, Maldives, Saudi Arabia and others, approach this issue with the utmost rigor. Therefore, it will not be possible to bring alcohol here under any pretext.

As for alcohol from Duty Free, there are some controversial points here. For example, if a passenger flies from a non-Schengen country with a transfer in a Schengen state, the control service will require you to hide alcoholic drinks in your baggage.

American air carriers allow the carriage of alcohol in carry-on luggage purchased only in Duty Free stores located in the United States. Remember that drinking alcohol is harmful to the body. Drinking alcohol at a high altitude, everyone runs the risk of slowing down breathing and a subsequent lack of oxygen, so you should be very careful about this issue.

In contact with

We all know and are accustomed to the fact that it is allowed to drink alcohol on the plane. But this is not always the case. If you have to fly somewhere, it is better to familiarize yourself with the rules for the carriage of alcoholic beverages from this or that air carrier a few days before the flight. Usually information of this kind is available on the official website of the airline. Otherwise, you run the risk of being confiscated intoxicants, making you pay a round sum fine, or not being allowed on board the aircraft at all.

It all depends on whether you are going to drink alcohol on board the airliner or if you want to carry alcohol in your luggage. If you are going to carry alcohol along with your luggage, then you need to know a few simple rules. On domestic Russian flights, the carriage of alcoholic beverages in checked baggage is governed by the following features:

• alcohol up to 24 percent strength can be carried in baggage without any restrictions by all passengers who have reached the age of 21;
• alcoholic beverages with a strength of over 24% to 70% can be carried in baggage by all adult passengers, no more than 5 liters per person.

On international flights, things are much more complicated. The rules for carrying alcohol in baggage depend on the customs laws of the state to whose territory you are going to fly. You can familiarize yourself with the points of these rules from your air carrier, any tourist operator or the embassy of the country you want to visit.

No more than two liters of alcoholic beverages of any strength can be imported into the territory of the Russian Federation. If you want more, then be prepared to pay duty, VAT and excise tax. There is also an upper ceiling for the transportation of alcoholic drinks to Russia. It is equal to 10 liters. More than this figure, you will not be allowed to take it to our country, even if you pay all the taxes stipulated by Russian law.

Now let's talk about the transportation and drinking of alcohol directly in the cabin of the aircraft. Carrying alcohol into the aircraft cabin is governed by a set of rules for the carriage of hand luggage. Based on them, any adult passenger can carry with him about 100 grams of a strong drink in an undamaged factory container. In addition, it must be contained in a transparent plastic bag with a zip lock. Before boarding the plane, airport staff carefully check the safety of the packaging. In case of the slightest suspicion of the integrity of the contents of the package, it is immediately and irrevocably withdrawn.

On international flights, it is allowed to bring alcoholic beverages from Duty Free in special branded packages of this trading platform. But there is one thing: the countries of the Schengen area. When flying with a stopover in a Schengen country, you will be forced to remove alcohol from the aircraft cabin in your luggage - these are their rules. In the United States of America, alcohol in the cabin of an aircraft can only be transported if it was purchased in one of the "Duty Free" and only in America.

We would like to draw your attention to the following: if it is allowed to carry alcohol on the plane, this does not mean that you can drink it on board. If you want to drink on board the aircraft, then first read the rules for drinking alcoholic beverages on board the aircraft of this or that airline. You can find them on the official website of the company whose plane you want to fly. Most airlines allow you to take your own alcohol while flying. But there are companies that prohibit drinking alcohol brought on board the aircraft. For example, the Russian Aeroflot confiscates alcohol from you that you bought in a regular store and are going to drink it during the flight. But you can buy alcohol directly on the plane during the flight. However, there are two peculiarities here. Firstly, the range of alcoholic beverages in the airliner is very scarce. Secondly, if you want to buy more alcohol, and the aircraft personnel thinks that your blood alcohol level is high enough, they have the right to refuse you further sale of a strong drink for the sake of flight safety. There are also many companies that have a dry law on their flights. It is strictly forbidden to use high-grade drinks on air transports of such companies.

So we figured out the peculiarities of the transportation and drinking of alcohol on board the aircraft. Remember them and you will not have any difficulties during the flight. Also, do not forget that drinking alcohol at high altitudes slows down breathing and causes a lack of oxygen in the human body! Be careful, drink less alcohol and your flight will be safer!

Alcohol in baggage on an airplane is quite common. Someone cannot walk past a duty-free shop, someone needs to always have a bottle of their favorite drink with them - the reasons are different for everyone.

At the same time, the transportation of alcoholic beverages is regulated by the rules of airlines, as well as by the requirements of the legislation of the country to which the aircraft belongs.

Therefore, in order to prevent misunderstandings during boarding, it is advisable to know how much alcohol you can carry with you, the rules for their packaging and transportation, as well as other requirements regarding this issue.

Is it possible to carry alcohol on the plane

First of all, the rate of alcohol transportation on the plane depends on the direction of the flight - domestic or international. If for domestic flights the requirements for the carriage of alcohol in Russia are taken into account only by national legislation, then for international travel it is also necessary to take into account the current conditions in the territory of the country of temporary stay.

Alcohol in aircraft baggage

The transportation of alcoholic beverages in Russia, according to the rules in force in 2017, must be carried out taking into account the following requirements:

• drinks with a strength of up to 24% for passengers over 21 years old can be transported without restrictions;
• drinks with a strength of more than 24%, but not more than 70%, can be carried in an amount of not more than 5 liters per passenger.

The requirements for how many liters of alcohol are allowed to be transported on international flights will depend on the legislation of the country of destination. Basically, it is allowed to take on the plane:

• one liter of strong alcohol;
• two liters of wine.

It is worth knowing that the transportation of alcoholic beverages when traveling to some Arab countries is completely prohibited.

It is possible to say more precisely how much alcohol can be taken out of Russia by plane only after studying the legislation of the country to be visited.

Alcohol in carry-on baggage

Those who like to celebrate every step taken with alcohol are very concerned about whether it is possible to take strong drinks with them on the plane. In most cases, this is not completely prohibited, but so that there are no misunderstandings at the entrance to the salon, it is advisable to know how to bring alcohol on board.

Alcohol can be brought on board the aircraft only if the current requirements for the carriage of various liquids by air are met. In particular, you can bring alcohol into the salon in containers with a volume of no more than 100 ml, placed in bags with fasteners. Up to ten of these bottles are allowed on the plane. Larger containers can be checked in as checked baggage.

Separately, you will need to consider the export of alcohol on an airplane from duty free. For such items, there are separate requirements for the maximum amount of such items you can carry in the showroom.

The above restriction on how many liters of alcohol you can take on the plane does not apply to alcohol purchased in duty-free shops. The main condition in this case will be to preserve the integrity of the packaging in which the bottle is placed in the store.

At the same time, although alcohol from duty free on the plane can be carried in sufficient quantities (two or three bottles per passenger) so that there are no misunderstandings during customs inspection in the country of temporary stay, it is advisable to know the current restrictions on the import of alcohol.

How to pack and transport alcohol on an airplane

To figure out how to carry alcohol on an airplane, it is advisable to know not only the maximum volume of alcohol carried, depending on the direction of the flight, but also the conditions for packing bottles before putting them in luggage.

It is worth knowing that there are no approved requirements for how to pack alcohol in baggage on the plane. Each passenger, if they wish to take the permitted amount of alcohol into the luggage of the aircraft, must pack it themselves so that there is no risk of breaking the bottle during transportation.

1. It is advisable to transport alcohol in a suitcase with hard walls. When using soft sports bags, the likelihood of bottle breakage will be much higher.
2. When placing a bottle, it should not be placed in the immediate vicinity of the suitcase wall; soft things must be placed between the container and the wall.
3. You cannot place bottles next to each other, clothes must be between them.
4. It is also not recommended to place heavy and solid objects next to the container.

You should not try to smuggle alcohol in a suitcase for a year in advance. Each airline has restrictions on the total weight of baggage carried. If you place a significant number of bottles in a suitcase, its weight will in any case not fit into the current restrictions, and you will have to pay for additional baggage.

Table of norms of other products

Click to enlarge

How much alcohol can be taken from Russia to other countries

The answer to the question of whether it is possible to carry alcohol on an airplane depends both on the rules of the airline and the legislation of the country where the flight is directed. There are no general conditions here, therefore, in order to avoid trouble, you will need to know the requirements of the country you plan to visit.

Many tourists do not see much of a difference between transporting alcohol in Russia and traveling abroad. The legislation of many Asian countries (the same Thailand) provides for quite serious sanctions for violators of existing norms, up to and including imprisonment. According to the available reviews of some lucky people, places of imprisonment in such countries are significantly inferior to even three-star hotels in terms of the quality of service. Therefore, although you can carry alcohol on the plane, you should not try to become a shuttle from the 90s, packing your suitcase to the top with bottles. The result of an attempt to cheat customs can be quite expensive both in material terms and in terms of damage to health from being in a prison cell with an earthen floor.

to Thailand

According to the current restrictions, it is allowed to import no more than one liter of alcoholic beverages. If the specified amount is exceeded, not only the confiscation of surplus alcohol is provided, but also a fine of about a thousand dollars.

to Finland

The legislation of this country allows duty-free import of alcohol in the following quantities:

• 4 liters of wine, or
• 16 liters of beer, or
• 1 liter of strong alcoholic beverages (with an alcohol content of more than 22%), or
• 2 liters of other types of alcoholic beverages with a strength of up to 22%.

You need to know that alcohol in the specified amount is allowed to be imported only if the duration of stay in Finland will exceed three days.

Ukraine

According to the customs code, the following restrictions are imposed on the amount of alcohol imported across the border of Ukraine:

• 5 liters of beer;
• 2 liters of wine;
• 1 liter of spirits with an alcohol content of more than 22%.

Belarus

The total volume of alcoholic beverages imported into the territory of this country should not exceed three liters for each passenger. Moreover, the strength of the drink does not matter, even beer is taken into account in this amount.

Kazakhstan

Similar to the rules in force in the Republic of Belarus, up to three liters of any type of alcoholic beverages can be imported into the territory of Kazakhstan without paying duties.

Poland

Without paying additional fees, it is allowed to transport the following amount of alcohol across the border of Poland:

• 1 liter of hard alcohol products (with an alcohol content of more than 22%), or
• 2 liters of alcoholic beverages with a strength of up to 22%, or
• 4 liters of still wines, or
• 16 liters of beer.

China

Adult passengers are allowed to bring into China no more than one and a half liters of an alcoholic drink of any strength.

Germany

The customs legislation of this country allows duty-free import of alcohol in the amount of 1 liter of spirits (more than 22% alcohol content) or 2 liters of medium-strength alcohol (up to 22%).

Egypt

On the territory of this country, you can carry no more than 1 liter of strong alcohol and 2 liters of beer duty-free.

Bali

According to the requirements of local legislation, duty-free import of alcoholic beverages of any strength up to two liters per adult passenger is allowed.

Turkey

Alcohol of any strength can be imported into Turkey in a total amount not exceeding five liters, and drinks of the same type are imported in a volume not exceeding three liters.

UAE

Restrictions on the import of alcoholic beverages through customs are separate for each emirate (administrative-territorial unit of this country). For example, when traveling to Dubai, you can take with you 24 cans of beer or other alcoholic beverages in a volume of up to 4 liters. In Abu Dhabi, the import rate of alcohol is limited to a total volume of 4 liters.

India

On the territory of this country, the import of alcoholic beverages of any strength in the amount of up to 2 liters is allowed.

Sri lanka

According to customs legislation, adult passengers are allowed to import:

• 1.5 liters of hard alcoholic beverages;
• 2 bottles of wine.

Norway

It is allowed to import into the territory of this country:

• 1 liter of alcohol with an alcoholic strength of 22% to 60% and 1.5 liters of drinks with an alcoholic strength of 2.5% to 22%, or 3 liters of a drink with an alcoholic strength of 2.5% to 22%;
• 2 liters of low-alcohol drink with strength from 2.5% to 4.7%.

Thus, if only beer is imported, the total volume allowed for transportation will be 5 liters.

Lithuania

Alcoholic beverages in the following volumes are allowed for import without paying an additional duty:

• with a strength of 22% to 80% - 1 liter;
• with a strength of up to 22% - 2 liters.

Additionally, you can bring 4 liters of non-sparkling wines and 16 liters of beer.

Latvia

The restrictions on the import of alcoholic beverages in this country are completely identical to those for Lithuania.

Estonia

Without paying the duty, 1 liter of alcohol with a strength of more than 22% or 2 liters of alcohol with a strength of up to 22% can be imported into the territory of this country.

It is worth knowing that there are no uniform rules regarding how much alcohol can be transported across the Russian border to Europe. The legislation of the EU countries, as well as of the associated member countries, is similar in most positions, but in any case, different states have certain differences in requirements. Therefore, in order to find out whether it is possible to carry a certain amount of alcohol by plane, you will need to study in detail the customs legislation of the country of temporary stay.

Can I drink alcohol on the plane?

Drinking alcohol on an airplane is a kind of national sport. There are even certain traditions regarding the moments of capsizing the cup - the aircraft entering taxiing, taking off from the runway, and so on. If all the conditions are met, by the time of arrival at the final destination, the keeper of traditions will be in a state of complete insanity.

Most airlines, including Aeroflot, are prohibited from drinking alcohol on the plane. Since the condition of whether it is possible to drink alcohol on the plane is set by the passenger carrier itself, the requirements for different companies may differ, but in order to improve flight safety, a ban is generally in effect.

It is worth knowing that alcohol on board is a dubious pleasure. Flying in an airplane itself is a significant load on all body systems, and in combination with alcohol can cause serious problems.

The rules of most airlines allow the removal from the flight of passengers in a state of pronounced alcohol intoxication, as well as posing a threat to the health and life of other passengers and crew. Therefore, an overly violent traveler may suddenly find himself in an unfamiliar airport, and his journey home will be long and exciting.

At the same time, it is worth knowing that the rules of the air carrier are advisory in nature, there is no direct legislative prohibition on drinking alcohol on aircraft.

Therefore, if you want to relax with alcohol, you can do it without any problems. In the event that the passenger has quietly consumed and quietly fell asleep, there will be no complaints against him. But in the event of a drunken brawl on board a tourist returning home, police officers can already wait.

Thus, if you want to drink a small amount of alcohol during the flight, you can do this without risking creating problems for yourself.

How much alcohol costs on airplanes

Taking into account the restrictions on the presence of various liquids in hand luggage, the problem of whether alcohol is given on the plane is a priority for many avid pilgrims.

Given that most carriers have no alcohol on board, the answer to the question of whether alcohol is sold on airplanes will depend on the airline's terms and conditions.

Most of the alcohol sales on board the aircraft are carried out in duty-free shops. The level of prices on board is approximately equal to the cost of such alcohol in duty-free shops, or may be several euros higher. For example, a liter bottle of the famous Sheridan`s liqueur costs about $ 25, a liter bottle of Becherovka - about $ 12.

However, the purchase of additional alcohol may not be required. Depending on the class of the purchased ticket, the cost of the flight, in addition to meals, may include a certain amount of alcohol. In economy class it will most likely be a small can of beer (0.33 l) or a mini-bottle of wine (0.187 l), in business class they can serve up to 250 ml of any drink and two small bottles from the minibar.

During the hot vacation season (yes, in fact, and not only), many are interested in issues related to the transportation and drinking of alcohol on board the aircraft. These questions are extremely diverse. From general, from the series: "Is it possible to carry alcohol on the plane?" to more specific ones, such as: "how much alcohol can I take on the plane?" or really tricky ones, for example: "how much alcohol can you buy in duty free?"

In this article we will try to give you the most comprehensive answers to these and other questions related to alcohol and aviation topics.

Can I take alcohol on the plane?

Of course. Only in this case, you need to follow the rules and regulations for the carriage of alcohol on the plane.

How many liters of alcohol can I take on an airplane

If we are talking about whether it is possible to carry alcohol in the luggage of the plane (we will talk about hand luggage separately), then in this case there are a number of generally accepted rules. Thus, the volume of drinks, whose strength does not exceed 24 degrees, is limited only by the general regulation of the weight of the luggage. That is, if, according to the airline's rules, you can carry up to 40 kg per person in the luggage compartment, then all this cargo can consist, say, of the corresponding amount of bottled port (of course, taking into account the weight of the glass container itself).

In the case of drinks with a strength from 24 to 70 degrees, each adult passenger can carry up to 5 liters of alcohol in his luggage. The transportation of substances exceeding the 70-degree defect in strength is strictly prohibited.

However, attention!

All these rather liberal rules for the carriage of alcohol on the plane, in fact, are relevant only for domestic flights. In the case of international flights, the first fiddle is played by the norms adopted for the export and import of alcohol in a particular country (they can be found in your travel agency, airline or the referral service of the embassy of the state you are interested in).

For example, you can take out from Ukraine only one liter of strong alcohol per adult traveler (although if a person has not reached the age of 21, then arriving in the United States or, say, the UK, he will no longer be considered such). Duty-free import of alcohol into Russia applies to 3 liters of alcohol per person (plus another 7 liters with payment of various duties and taxes). You can import only 1 liter of alcohol into the United States duty-free; on the other hand, when paying all due fees, the amount of imported alcohol is not limited. The import of strong drinks to Egypt and Thailand is limited to one liter, to Turkey - to a liter of spirits or 1.4 liters of wine; in some of the administrative-territorial units of the UAE, only non-Muslims can import alcohol, and in Saudi Arabia, the import of alcohol is generally prohibited.

How to pack alcohol in baggage on a plane

In addition to the fact that each bottle must be individually wrapped in order to avoid the breakage of dishes on board, there is another important rule. So that you do not have any problems while checking your baggage, the alcohol you are transporting must be in its original packaging. That is, in bottles from a direct manufacturer with proper labels, markings and excise taxes.

Alcohol in hand luggage on the plane

To begin with, you will be able to smuggle only a liter of any liquid through security inspection at any airport; including alcohol. At the same time, the transported liquid must be in bottles, the volume of which does not exceed 100 ml. Each such carefully sealed container must be placed in a separate transparent zippered bag. In this situation, it is convenient to transport anything but alcohol.

Fortunately, there remains a saving duty free, where, after passing through security, you can buy various alcoholic drinks. The main thing is that their weight does not exceed the limit set by your airline for hand luggage, and the volume corresponds to the norms of the country you are traveling to. Although, there are several additional nuances here.

So, if the store packaging of the purchased drinks is damaged during the trip, then after landing you may have trouble from the airline. If you are going to use the services of American air carriers, keep in mind that you can only bring on board alcohol purchased from duty free shops located at US airports. And, finally, if you are flying in transit through the Schengen area, then when transferring you will be required to put drinks purchased at the airport of a country outside the Schengen area in your baggage.

Any doctor forced to follow professional ethics will tell you that it is better not to drink alcohol at all on board the airliner. Then, seeing your distressed face, he graciously adds that you can afford some light beer or red wine.

We do not see anything wrong with drinking any strong drinks during air travel (of course, unless you have serious medical contraindications, for example, related to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or cardiovascular system). The main thing to remember is that at an altitude of more than three kilometers, the intensity of the effect of alcohol on the body almost triples. Therefore, when you start celebrating the start of your journey, do not forget that you should limit yourself to a third of your usual norm (which, we hope, you know very well).

Can I drink my own alcohol on the plane?

Well, what can we say here ... The overwhelming majority of airlines, guided by commercial considerations and safety standards, categorically prohibit passengers from using their own alcoholic supplies on board.

It can cost you a decent fine to find a broken duty-free beverage package when you get off the plane.

However, guided by our own experience, we can add that if you buy a small bottle of this or that alcoholic drink on board, and then add a couple of the same copies to it, bought in advance in duty free, then nothing terrible should happen. The main thing is not to forget about the peculiarities of the effects of alcohol in the air, and also to bear in mind that the passenger who has gone overboard is not a very appetizing and often unsafe phenomenon.

Found a mistake or have something to add? Select the text and press CTRL + ENTER or. Thank you for your contribution to the development of the site!

We know from Hollywood movies that you can drink alcohol on the plane. But when it comes to flying, it's best to know in advance the rules for carrying alcohol on aircraft. Otherwise, you may not be allowed on board, confiscated alcohol, or forced to pay a fine.

First you need to decide whether you will be carrying alcohol in the luggage of the plane or if you want to drink it on board. In the first case, everything is much simpler. On the within Russian flights Alcohol in checked baggage is subject to the following rules:

• alcoholic drinks with a strength of up to 24% are carried without restrictions by all passengers over 21 years old;
• alcohol with a strength of 24-70% can be carried by all adult passengers, but not more than 5 liters per person.

On international flights the rules depend on the customs laws of the country you are flying to. They can be clarified before the flight with the travel operator, the embassy or the airline that sold the ticket. Usually, 1 liter of strong alcohol, 2 liters of wine and 1 block of cigarettes can be exported from Russia to another country. But this is an average number that requires clarification. For example, it is prohibited to import alcohol into Saudi Arabia.

It is allowed to import two liters of alcohol of any strength into the territory of Russia. It is possible and more (up to 10 liters), but then you have to pay duty, excise and VAT. It won't be the best buy.

Now let's figure out how much alcohol you can take on the plane. The carriage of alcohol in the cabin of an aircraft is governed by the rules for the carriage of hand luggage. According to these rules, the passenger has the right to take with him 100 g of alcohol in an undamaged factory container, which is packed in a transparent plastic bag with a zip lock. Before boarding, you will be sure to check the integrity of the packaging.

On international flights, it is allowed to carry alcohol from Duty-Free, packed in special bags of these stores. But here, too, difficulties may arise. If you are flying from a country outside the Schengen area, and the transfer will be in a country of the Schengen area, then when transferring you will be asked to put alcohol in your luggage. Only alcohol purchased from duty-free shops in that country can be carried on board US aircraft.

The right to carry alcohol on board the aircraft does not mean that alcohol can be consumed on board. It all depends on the internal rules of the airline. In most cases, for example on Aeroflot aircraft, you can only drink alcohol purchased on board. There are carriers that have introduced a dry law on their flights. Therefore, the rules for drinking alcoholic beverages should be checked with the airline that sold you the ticket.

I also advise you to remember that alcohol at an altitude of more than 3000 meters slows down the breathing rate and increases oxygen deprivation. Hence the advice - reduce your usual dose several times, then during the flight you will not get intoxicated to a state of insanity.