Whether you’re bringing it home as a souvenir or a gift, alcohol often makes its way into our suitcases as we head back from vacation.
But before you stash that vino in your carry-on, you’ll want to brush up on the basics of flying with alcohol. (And, if you’re still looking for a flight, give our flight search a go while you’re here.)
So, can you bring alcohol on a plane? The short answer is yes, but there are caveats. We’re here to answer your common questions about carrying alcohol on a flight. For the official word on what you can and cannot bring with you on a flight (including alcohol), please refer to the TSA.
Can you bring alcohol on a plane?
Yes, passengers are allowed to carry alcohol on a flight, both in carry-on and checked baggage, as long as they are of legal drinking age and follow any applicable rules. In general, alcohol must be transported in its original, unopened container.
Can you take alcohol on a plane of any kind?
If your booze is unopened and 140 proof or less, you can safely bring your alcohol on board. Anything over 140 proof is prohibited though, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. This includes grain alcohol and 151-proof rum.
What about boozy sweets and treats, though? Rum-soaked cakes and alcohol-infused candies are also popular souvenirs to bring home. So, if you’re wondering whether you can bring alcohol on a plane in food form, the answer is yes. Just be careful about where you pack it.
If you’re carrying one piece of cake or a closed container of candy, there should be no problem. But if you’re bringing an entire box of rum cake back from the Caribbean, for example, you may want to put it in your checked bag to avoid any trouble at security or customs.
How much can I carry?
How much alcohol you can bring on a flight depends on whether you’re checking your bottles or carrying them on.
Alcohol limits in carry-on baggage
If you’re packing alcohol in your carry-on, you’ll be subject to the Transportation Security Administration’s 3-1-1 limit for liquids. Containers must be 3.4 ounces or fewer and fit inside one quart-sized bag.
Alcohol limits in checked luggage
If you’re carrying alcohol in your checked bags, your limits depend on alcohol content. According to the FAA, there are no limits on how much alcohol you can pack in your checked luggage if the alcohol by volume is less than 24 percent (generally beer and wine). Between 24 and 70 percent, however, the FAA limits passengers to five liters.
Alcohol limits for international travel
Every country has its own rules for carrying alcohol on a flight. US Customs, for example, only allows one liter of alcohol to be carried into the United States duty-free. If you’re planning on meeting the five-liter legal limit, you’ll be subject to paying duty and taxes for the other four liters. Keep in mind that passengers under the age of 21 are completely prohibited from importing alcohol into the US.
Other countries like Kuwait forbid passengers from carrying alcohol into the country entirely. Be sure to check the local laws of your specific destination before packing alcohol in your suitcase.
Can you take alcohol on a flight if you buy it at a duty-free shop at the airport?
If you purchase alcohol in a duty-free shop, you can generally take it with you on the plane – but that doesn’t mean it can travel with you the entire way home.
If you have a connecting flight and need to pass through a TSA security checkpoint, your bags are once again subject to carry-on restrictions, which means anything over the 3.4-ounce limit needs to go in your checked baggage. This can be especially frustrating to learn during a layover, as you may not have access to your checked bags to check your alcohol (though you will likely have to claim your baggage and re-check it if you’re re-entering the U.S. and then have a connecting domestic flight).
To be safe, be sure to purchase your duty-free alcohol at the last airport you visit before arriving at your final destination to avoid losing it at a security checkpoint. Check out our guide to duty-free shopping.
Can I drink on the plane?
We get it: sometimes a stiff drink is the only thing that gets you through a 12-hour red-eye sandwiched between the snorer who uses your shoulder as a pillow and the Chatty Cathy who won’t stop raving about her trip to Thailand. That may just be why flight attendants serve alcohol – but they’re the only ones who can serve alcohol on the plane.
So, can you bring alcohol on a plane? Absolutely. But can you drink your own alcohol on a plane? Definitely not. It’s against federal regulation to open your own bottle of alcohol on a flight or to drink alcohol that was not directly served to you by a flight attendant. One of the main reasons is that your flight attendants are basically on bartender duty and need to keep your libations to a safe level.
How should I pack alcohol?
The last thing anyone wants to discover when they open their bag is a pile of wine-soaked clothes or glass shards from alcohol that didn’t make it safely through the flight. But there’s a way to avoid this and many other travel snafus. Whether you’re bringing back an expensive bottle of wine, exotic spirits or local beer, proper packing can ensure your alcohol makes it home in one piece.
Can you pack alcohol in checked luggage? And how should you pack it?
Certainly, but there’s a technique to it. First, make sure the bottles have never been opened – partially-consumed bottles are not allowed in your checked luggage. Then, place the bottle in a sealable plastic bag. In case the bottle does break, the bag will help contain the alcohol and keep it from spilling on your other belongings.
After placing the bottle in a bag, wrap the bottle to give it extra cushioning for the trip. Towels, sweaters, pants and shirts are all good options. Not only will they help protect the bottle from bumps and bruises during transportation, but the fabric will also help soak up any alcohol that manages to get past the plastic bag.
Finally, try to position the bottle snugly in the center of your suitcase and surround it with more clothes to ensure your bottle survives an accidental fall off the baggage carousel. If you’re packing mini bottles of alcohol in your checked luggage though, it gets even easier. Just the same as you would with larger wine or liquor bottles, you can seal your mini bottles in a bag to prevent any spillages in case they do break – this is a particularly good idea if the bottles have thin necks.
Then, put them inside some socks before placing them inside a shoe, which will provide extra protection during the journey. If you aren’t packing any shoes in your checked bag, wrap the bottles with towels, sweaters, and other clothes, just as you would with a bigger bottle.
Travel-friendly alcohol transport solutions
If you prefer to invest in something to help you carry your alcohol on a flight, products like the padded JetBag can help ensure your alcohol makes it home in one piece. If you’re in a bind at the airport, you can also check with your airline to see if they offer packaging.
Southwest Airlines, for example, offers wine and alcohol packaging for a small fee at their ticket counter. It’s also worth noting that it’s generally not a good idea to pack sparkling wine or other carbonated drinks in your checked bag, as they’re more likely to explode during pressure changes.
How to pack alcohol in your carry-on
Since the quantity of alcohol you can bring in a carry-on is more limited because of the 3-1-1 rule, you’ll be packing mini bottles the same way you pack your other liquids: in a clear quart-sized bag. Remember that each bottle must be 3.4 ounces or smaller.
What should I bring back?
When you’re only allowed to bring back a limited amount of alcohol, you can’t risk wasting your allowance on sub-par spirits or bottles that you later discover are readily available back home. What you choose to bring back depends on your personal tastes, but you might want to consider spirits that reflect the local flavor for a true souvenir of your experience, especially if you were on a booze-infused getaway.
In East Asia, for example, you might go for the local shochu or soju liquor. In British Columbia or parts of Europe, you might consider a bottle of the local ice wine, while a local varietal from a boutique winery in South Africa or Australia could be the perfect gift for someone back home. And while you’re in Europe? Go for a bottle of Maraschino liqueur right from the source.
Cheers!
Curious how your airport and onboard drinking habits compare to other fliers? Check out our survey of Americans’ drinking habits while flying.
This article was refreshed on August 2nd, 2024.
