How Much German Schnapps Can You Bring Into Th Uk If You Buy It In A German Supermarket?

[whiskychick]

I will be going to the German Christmas market in cologne and hope to bring home some schnapps for the family. What is the customs limit?

[Fitzer]

For practical purposes there is no real limit, you might have problems persuading HMRC it is all for family gifts if you have a van packed to the doors with it though.

[woofgang]

no customs limit but here are the rules
https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/individuals/travelling/within-eu_en

[whiskychick]

It will likely be 6 or 7 bottles and I am flying.

[jno]

unless you get it at the airport, you'll need to have it in your hold baggage (unless they're 100ml bottles)

[zebo]

Buying it at the airports will be very expensive if you have to, do Aldi or Lidl not sell it? We once brought bratties back only to find the same things in Aldi, it was in the early days of the cheap German supermarkets in UK.

[EDDIE51]

Large selection of German and other Schnapps here and at excellent prices.
https://www.drinksupermarket.com/schnapps
Does not seem worth bringing it all the way from Germany. They do online ordering and home delivery.

[jno]

if you're bringing something back from abroad for Christmas presents, Aldi schnapps really won't do, it has to be authentically hand-imported: "Here's something I got in Cologne for you."

[Hopkirk]

Valid warning from Jno, you can't carry liquids in hand luggage.

[Buenchico]

Just a point to remember (if you manage to get all those bottles in your hold luggage without them breaking):

You're only permitted to bring back booze (without getting hit for excise duty) for 'personal use'. That includes bona fide gifts to others but excludes anything which you get paid for (or otherwise receive something in exchange for), even if you don't make a profit on it.

So, if you do get questioned by HMRC staff, it's essential that you make it clear that you're bringing back gifts. If you indicate that you've brought back any booze where you'll be paid (at cost price) for it, you'll get it confiscated.

[murraymints]

quite a heavy load... chocolate would be better !!

[whiskychick]

Thanks everyone.

[237SJ]

Also - under dangerous goods regs, you will only be able to bring 5 ltrs in the hold