Alcohol on ferry

redmgar

Can you take alcohol in your car to France (not for consumption on the ferry)?
Like a crate of beer?

vicwatson

Yes

Ponster

Possibly the shortest thread ever in this forum

Hoboo

Ponster wrote: »

Possibly the shortest thread ever in this forum

Crying laughing

Shefwedfan

The big question is "which alcohol?" if Budweiser then no

odyssey06

And for coming back, these are your limits, if your boot can fit it

* Spirits (for example whiskey, vodka and gin) - 10 litres
* Wine (of which only 60 litres can be sparkling ) - 90 litres
* Beer - 110 litres

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/travel_to_ireland/customs_regulations_for_travellers.html

Ponster

I wonder how they originally came up with those figures? Did they fill a transit with as much as possible and see what fit? 110 1L bottles of beer takes up a bit of space.

L1011

Ponster wrote: »

I wonder how they originally came up with those figures? Did they fill a transit with as much as possible and see what fit? 110 1L bottles of beer takes up a bit of space.

Its not based on physical space. Its a guess at what could be personal use vs. commercially viable to be selling on the sly.

The regulation is actually that it has to be for personal use; that includes giving it away as presents/use at a wedding/whatever. Those "limits" are the ones which Revenue are not going to question pesonal use.

I've had a bit more than 10l of spirits in the car from the UK before, and if stopped I would have invited them to come to my house and take a look at my drinks cabinet for proof that it was for personal use. Common sense applies if going above - 2000 smokes for a very heavy smoker can probably be justified. 20000 cannot.


For the OP - basically everything alcoholic is much cheaper in France, why would you bring anything?

odyssey06

Ponster wrote: »

I wonder how they originally came up with those figures? Did they fill a transit with as much as possible and see what fit? 110 1L bottles of beer takes up a bit of space.

That is an interesting question... how many bottles of beer can you fit in a transit van, without overloading the suspension

The spirits allowance of 10 litres wouldn't take up much space at all.

I wonder if the customs officials just count 'wine' type bottles or actually bother to check for table wine versus sparkling versus sherry\port\vermouth allowances.

odyssey06

L1011 wrote: »

The regulation is actually that it has to be for personal use; that includes giving it away as presents/use at a wedding/whatever. Those "limits" are the ones which Revenue are not going to question personal use.

Are you able to use all allowances at same time, e.g. the spirits and the wine and the beer? Or is it one or the other. Seems to favour the 'catholic' drinker rather than someone who just drinks spirits or beer.

Ponster

L1011 wrote: »

For the OP - basically everything alcoholic is much cheaper in France, why would you bring anything?

I guessed that they were going to visit friends or something. Though if it's on sale in France then most Irish alcohol will be cheaper there. I had years of friends visiting me bringing me bottles of whiskey only to find that it was less expensive in my local supermarket

redmgar

L1011 wrote: »

For the OP - basically everything alcoholic is much cheaper in France, why would you bring anything?

Even the posh craft beers?:)

Ponster

redmgar wrote: »

Even the posh craft beers?:)

They didn't exist when I was in France. That's all that I can think that it might be but either way as Ireland has the 2nd highest excise tax in Europe (1000% higher than Germany!) it'll always be cheaper elsewhere.

coylemj

redmgar wrote: »

Can you take alcohol in your car to France (not for consumption on the ferry)?
Like a crate of beer?

Unless you're smuggling live animals, nobody from the ferry company cares what's in your boot. And when you land in France, it's very unlikley that the local cops or customs will care either. If you have any engagement with officialdom in France, it will involved pulling the car over to one side and showing someone your passports. Which will take no more than a couple of minutes.

gandalf

Why would you bring alcohol to France? It's far cheaper over there.

odyssey06

gandalf wrote: »

Why would bring alcohol to France? It's far cheaper over there.

Might want to bring over sth Irish you cant get over there?

Macy0161

I didn't find the craft beer cheaper in France than here. Most of it bottle conditioned.

You can get cheap (and strong) non-craft blondes though. 750ml for a couple of euro.