Alcohol duty free concession

mthucs said:
Thanks mate.

Do you know if a half empty bottle counts as a full bottle for allowances? Ie would a mostly empty 750 count as a whole 750?
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You cannot legally carry an opened bottle of alcohol, it is against the dangerous goods rules.

If you got to customs I don't know how they'd treat it, I assume they'd count the full capacity as they have no way to measure it (same as taking 100ml in a 700ml bottle through international security, it still gets confiscated as it's the total capacity that counts).

Surely it's not worth it for a partial bottle - if it's worth that much to you bring it full and sealed. If you get caught breaking the DG rules you'll be in much more trouble than getting a bill at customs.
 
justinbrett said:
You cannot legally carry an opened bottle of alcohol, it is against the dangerous goods rules.

If you got to customs I don't know how they'd treat it, I assume they'd count the full capacity as they have no way to measure it (same as taking 100ml in a 700ml bottle through international security, it still gets confiscated as it's the total capacity that counts).

Surely it's not worth it for a partial bottle - if it's worth that much to you bring it full and sealed. If you get caught breaking the DG rules you'll be in much more trouble than getting a bill at customs.
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Good to know. Thanks
 
Qn - If you bought a 750ml bottle of wine overseas worth $10,000, when you return to AUS, is there $0 duty to be paid because its under your duty free alcohol allowance?
 
Well, another data point - 5L of alcohol at SYD this morning (very busy) - declared, got sent to the duty collections queue.

Guy asked what I had, then said "off you go".

I think I've had 100% success rate at SYD not paying duty.
 
After reading this thread I decided to bring back 3 extra bottles of wine and declare it and see what happened (entering via SYD)

I was sent to the Duty collection counter, there was no one else anywhere, no passengers - seems everyone else had nothing to declare, just one customs guy who asked what I had, then asked the approx value, he immediately told me to head to the wall and turn left (the exit)
 
Steady said:
After reading this thread I decided to bring back 3 extra bottles of wine and declare it and see what happened (entering via SYD)

I was sent to the Duty collection counter, there was no one else anywhere, no passengers - seems everyone else had nothing to declare, just one customs guy who asked what I had, then asked the approx value, he immediately told me to head to the wall and turn left (the exit)
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How many litres did you have in total and what was the mix of wine and spirits?
 
Danger said:
How many litres did you have in total and what was the mix of wine and spirits?
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4.5 litres / 6 x 750ml bottles all wine.

i had 3 packed in my checked luggage that the customs person could not see, and 3 in one of the clear sealed bags from an airport duty free shop
 
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justinbrett said:
You cannot legally carry an opened bottle of alcohol, it is against the dangerous goods rules.

If you got to customs I don't know how they'd treat it, I assume they'd count the full capacity as they have no way to measure it (same as taking 100ml in a 700ml bottle through international security, it still gets confiscated as it's the total capacity that counts).

Surely it's not worth it for a partial bottle - if it's worth that much to you bring it full and sealed. If you get caught breaking the DG rules you'll be in much more trouble than getting a bill at customs.
Click to expand...
Years ago, coming back into Australia via Darwin, I had an opened, half full bottle of Johnnie Walker Black (don't judge me, I was young then), and other full bottles of spirits. While in the queue, I asked the customs officer nearby whether the part bottle counted towards my limit, as it would take me over. He turned to his colleague and asked him to get three glasses with ice, paused, and then waved me through, without worrying about it.
 
If my memory serves me correct wasnt the duty free limit more generous some time back?

My father in law told me that about 20 years ago he didnt declare, was 1 bottle over the limit and the customers officer said either pay the tax or leave a bottle and handed over a bottle of JD and the officer said no it has to be the JW blue and my father in law said that he will only leave it if he pours all the liquid out and leave the bottle and the guy let him through with it all

I think we have come a long way since then but I do think we need to increase the limit
 
tmdl said:
If my memory serves me correct wasnt the duty free limit more generous some time back?

My father in law told me that about 20 years ago he didnt declare, was 1 bottle over the limit and the customers officer said either pay the tax or leave a bottle and handed over a bottle of JD and the officer said no it has to be the JW blue and my father in law said that he will only leave it if he pours all the liquid out and leave the bottle and the guy let him through with it all

I think we have come a long way since then but I do think we need to increase the limit
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Mentioned here or another DF thread, the limit was actually less but Customs had some discretion on what to wave through. Basically if the duty payable was less than $x you’d be waved through. I routinely declared 2 or 3 bottles with no issue.

Now, part of the problem is they can charge duty on the lot, not just the excess to your limit…😔
 
SYD said:
Mentioned here or another DF thread, the limit was actually less but Customs had some discretion on what to wave through. Basically if the duty payable was less than $x you’d be waved through. I routinely declared 2 or 3 bottles with no issue.

Now, part of the problem is they can charge duty on the lot, not just the excess to your limit…😔
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I must be mistaken. 4-5L would be a good limit IMO
 
SYD said:
Now, part of the problem is they can charge duty on the lot, not just the excess to your limit…😔
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I have brought through many bottles more than the DFA and offered to pay duty on them. This was at the height of peak travel, which is the last issue the authorities want to deal with.

Fortunately, these days it's much more convenient to handle such situations with Dan.
 
I brought back 2.35L of alcohol recently

Thought about just ticking under 2.25L
But ticked above 2.25L to be honest
The customs officer said how much do you have, i said 2.3L and he just waved me through
 
SOPOOR said:
I brought back 2.35L of alcohol recently

Thought about just ticking under 2.25L
But ticked above 2.25L to be honest
The customs officer said how much do you have, i said 2.3L and he just waved me through
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As if! I’m sure we’ll see you scrutinised and belittled on the Border Patrol TV show soon enough 😀
 
SOPOOR said:
I brought back 2.35L of alcohol recently

Thought about just ticking under 2.25L
But ticked above 2.25L to be honest
The customs officer said how much do you have, i said 2.3L and he just waved me through
Click to expand...
That happened to us a few years back - we had 2.5 L each and were also just waved straight through with a "thanks for being honest."
 

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