Bring alcohol from the foreigner
Verified 04 April 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Additional cases ?
You can bring back alcohol from a trip abroad. The quantities allowed vary depending on whether you are returning from a European Union (EU) country.
Within the EU
At return a trip to a country within theEuropean Union, you have the right to bring alcohol back to France.
However, there are conditions to be met and maximum amounts of alcohol not to be exceeded.
Warning
Are not concerned : the overseas departments and regions, the overseas communities and territories, on United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Canary Islands, Andorra, Monaco, Switzerland. For these countries, you should see the content dedicated to the zone non-EU.
You must meet the following conditions:
- Being of age (having 18 years minimum)
- Respect the authorized quantities per person
- Report a quantity corresponding to your own personal consumption
Warning
You have to keep the receipts of your purchases to present them at the Customs inspection.
The maximum quantities permitted per person of hard alcohol, soft alcohol, wine and beer are as follows:
Category of alcohol | Quantities |
|---|---|
Strong alcohol and spirits, greater than 22 degrees : whisky, gin, vodka, rum, pastis, ouzo, limoncello, liqueurs, etc. | 10 liters |
Intermediate alcohol, "sweet" wines, less than or equal to 22 degrees : porto, madeira, vermouth, muscat, banyuls, etc. | 20 liters |
Wine | 90 liters (including 60 liters maximum of sparkling wine) |
Beer | 110 liters |
These maximum quantities are cumulable by alcohol category.
Example :
You can bring back: 10 liters of whiskey + 20 liters of port + 90 liters of wine + 110 liters of beer or 10 liters of whisky + 20 liters of port + 60 liters of sparkling wine (champagne or crème) + 30 liters of wine + 110 liters of beer.
These are quantities per person and not per vehicle.
These limitations apply equally whether you are traveling by personal transport (on foot, by bike, by car, by boat, etc.) or by public transport (plane, train, boat).
Infographie - Maximum quantities of alcohol authorized to be brought back from a European country
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You can bring back alcohol freely in your luggage from a European Union country. You must respect the following maximum quantities: 90 liters of wine, including a maximum of 60 liters of sparkling wine, 110 liters of beer, 10 liters of strong alcohol and spirits (whisky, rum, vodka, liqueurs, etc.) or 20 liters of intermediate products (type porto, madeira, vermouth, banyuls)
If you go beyond the quantities authorized, sanctions are:
- Rights consumption at pay for
- Fine up to €750
- Confiscation of all your products
- Seizure and confiscation of your vehicle transport personnel
- One-year prison sentence
Please note
Consumer duties, taxes and fines are paid directly to the Customs inspector or by telepayment. Several payment methods are accepted depending on the amount.
Non-EU
The conditions and quantities are different depending on whether you are in a particular situation or not (general case). The special cases apply if you are returning from Andorra, if you live near a border, or if you work in international transport.
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General case
The countries concerned are:
- Country located outside of the European Union (including the United Kingdom and Switzerland)
- Overseas communities and territories (Com and Tom)
- Overseas departments and regions
- Channel Islands
- Canary Islands
Conditions to be met
You must meet the following conditions:
- Have Minimum age 17
- Respect the authorized quantities per person
- Report quantities corresponding to your own personal consumption
You have to keep the receipt of your tobacco purchases to be presented at Customs inspection.
Please note
For young people under 17 years, stricter rules apply. Inquire at the customs of the country of entry into the European Union.
Who shall I contact
Maximum permissible quantities per person
There are maximum quantities authorized per person of hard alcohol, soft alcohol, wine and beer.
You can bring back in your luggage:
Wine and beer | Quantity allowed |
|---|---|
Wine (non-sparkling) | 4 liters |
Beer | 16 liters |
You can in addition bring back one of them of the following alcohols:
Alcohols (other than wine and beer) | Quantity allowed |
|---|---|
Alcohol and alcoholic beverage greater than 22 degrees : whisky, gin, rum, pastis, ouzo, liqueurs, etc. | 1 liter |
Or alcohol and alcoholic beverage less than or equal to 22 degrees : porto, madeira, vermouth, muscat, banyuls, etc. | 2 liters |
Or undenatured ethyl alcohol of 80 degrees or more | 1 liter |
Or a proportionate mix of these categories of goods | Example : 1 liter of alcohol below 22 degrees + 0,5 liter of alcohol above 22 degrees |
These are quantities per person and not per vehicle.
These limitations apply equally whether you are traveling by personal transport (on foot, by bike, by car, by boat, etc.) or by public transport (plane, train, boat).
Example :
You can bring back 4 liters of wine + 16 liters of beer + 1 liter of whisky or 4 liters of wine + 16 liters of beer + 2 liters of port or 4 liters of wine + 16 liters of beer + 0.5 liter of whisky + 1 liter of port.
Penalties for exceeding the authorized quantities
If you go beyond the quantities authorized, sanctions are:
- Rights consumption at pay for
- Fine up to €750
- Confiscation of all your products
- Seizure and confiscation of your vehicle transport personnel
- One-year prison sentence
Please note
Consumer duties, taxes and fines are paid directly to the Customs inspector or by telepayment. Several payment methods are accepted depending on the amount.
You just came back from Andorra
Conditions to be met
You must meet the following conditions:
- Have Minimum age 17
- Respect the authorized quantities per person
- Report quantities corresponding to your own personal consumption
You have to keep the receipt of your purchases to present it at Customs inspection.
Please note
For young people under 17 years, stricter rules apply. Inquire with Customs.
Who shall I contact
Maximum permissible quantities per person
You must respect the following limits per person:
Categories of alcohol | Quantities |
|---|---|
Wine (non-sparkling) | 5 liters |
Alcohol and alcoholic beverage greater than 22 degrees : whisky, rum, vodka, gin, pastis, ouzo, limoncello, liqueurs, etc. | 1.5 liter |
Or undenatured ethyl alcohol exceeding 80 degrees | 1.5 liter |
Or alcohol and alcoholic beverage less than or equal to 22 degrees : porto, madeira, vermouth, muscat, banyuls, etc. | 3 liters |
FYI
These are quantities per person and not per vehicle.
These limitations apply equally whether you are traveling by personal transport (on foot, by bike, by car, by boat, etc.) or by public transport (plane, train, boat).
The quantities of wine and of strong alcohols are cumulable and you can add a mild alcohol of less than 22 degrees (porto, etc.) or make a proportional assortment.
Example :
You can bring back 5 liters of wine + 3 liters of vermouth (or port, madeira, muscat, etc.) or 5 liters of wine + 1 liter of vermouth (or port, madeira, muscat, etc.) + 0.5 liter of whisky (or gin, vodka, rum, liqueur, etc.) or 5 liters of wine + 1.5 liters of whisky (or gin, vodka, rum, liqueur, etc.).
Penalties for exceeding the authorized quantities
If you go beyond the quantities authorized, sanctions are:
- Rights consumption at pay for
- Fine up to €750
- Confiscation of all your products
- Seizure and confiscation of your vehicle transport personnel
- One-year prison sentence
Please note
Consumer duties, taxes and fines are paid directly to the Customs inspector or by telepayment. Several payment methods are accepted depending on the amount.
You're a border person
Data subjects
You are affected if you are:
- Border worker or frontier with Switzerland,
- And resident of a border area with a country outsidethe European Union.
Example :
You live in French Guiana in an area less than 10 km from the border of Brazil or Suriname.
Maximum permissible quantities per person
You can bring the maximum quantities following:
Wine and beer | Allowed Quantity |
|---|---|
Wine (non-sparkling) | 0.5 liter |
Beer | 4 liters |
You can in addition report:
Alcohols (other than wine and beer) | Allowed Quantity |
|---|---|
Alcohol and alcoholic beverage greater than 22 degrees : whisky, gin, rum, vodka, pastis, ouzo, limoncello, liqueurs, etc. | 0.25 liter |
Or alcohol and alcoholic beverage less than or equal to 22 degrees : porto, madeira, vermouth, muscat, banyuls, etc. | 0.5 liter |
Or undenatured ethyl alcohol exceeding 80 degrees | 0.25 liter |
FYI
These are quantities per person and not per vehicle.
These limitations apply equally whether you are traveling by personal transport (on foot, by bike, by car, by boat, etc.) or by public transport (plane, train, boat).
Wine and beer can be combined and you can make an assortment with one of the other strong or sweet alcohols.
Example :
You live in the Jura less than 10 km from Switzerland and you can bring back from Switzerland 0.25 liter of liqueur + 0,5 liter of wine (non-sparkling) + 4 liters of beer.
You have to keep the receipt of your purchases to present it at Customs inspection.
Penalties for exceeding the authorized quantities
If you go beyond the quantities authorized, sanctions are:
- Rights consumption at pay for
- Fine up to €750
- Confiscation of all your products
- Seizure and confiscation of your vehicle transport personnel
- One-year prison sentence
Please note
Consumer duties, taxes and fines are paid directly to the Customs inspector or by telepayment. Several payment methods are accepted depending on the amount.
You work in international transportation
Conditions to be met
The conditions to be met are as follows:
- Respect the authorized quantities
- Report quantities corresponding to a personal consumption
- Be major (at least 18 years old)
You have to keep the receipt of your purchases to present it at Customs inspection.
Maximum permissible quantities per person
You can bring back in your luggage:
Wine and beer | Allowed Quantity |
|---|---|
Wine (non-sparkling) | 0.5 liter |
Beer | 4 liters |
You can in addition report:
Alcohols (other than wine and beer) | Allowed Quantity |
|---|---|
Alcohol and alcoholic beverage greater than 22 degrees : whisky, rum, vodka, gin, pastis, ouzo, limoncello, liqueurs, etc. | 0.25 liter |
Or alcohol and alcoholic beverage less than or equal to 22 degrees : porto, madeira, vermouth, muscat, banyuls, etc. | 0.5 liter |
Or undenatured ethyl alcohol exceeding 80 degrees | 0.25 liter |
FYI
These are quantities per person and not per vehicle.
These limitations apply equally whether you are traveling by personal transport (on foot, by bike, by car, by boat, etc.) or by public transport (plane, train, boat).
Wine and beer can be combined and you can make an assortment with one of the other strong or sweet alcohols.
Example :
You can bring back 0.5 liter of wine (non-sparkling) + 4 liters of beer + 0.5 liter of port.
Penalties for exceeding the authorized quantities
If you go beyond the quantities authorized, sanctions are:
- Rights consumption at pay for
- Fine up to €750
- Confiscation of all your products
- Seizure and confiscation of your vehicle transport personnel
- One-year prison sentence
Please note
Consumer duties, taxes and fines are paid directly to the Customs inspector or by telepayment. Several payment methods are accepted depending on the amount.
Who can help me?
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Customs Service Info
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Movement in the EU: maximum quantities allowed to enter France (alcohol, tobacco, cash, etc.)
Movement outside the EU: customs duties on the import and export of personal property
Tax exemption on imports
Tax penalties for the illicit manufacture, possession, sale or transport of alcohol and tobacco
Criminal sanctions in cases of fraudulent manufacture or possession with a view to the sale of alcohol and tobacco
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