Hello! Four of us here are in Ireland and doing various whiskey tours/tastings. If we want to bring home whiskey, I saw there is a 5L limit per person for InterEuropean flights. We are traveling to Germany and London. We are carrying on 1 bag each and then are sharing one checked bag. Does the 5L apply to that one bag since it is under my name or could it be for each of us (20L max) in my bag? I'm assuming it's just 5, but wanted to check.
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
7051 posts
Where did you see that? I've never heard about that rule.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23642 posts
If I follow you correctly, the 5L bottle will have to be in checked luggage as it exceeds the liquid limit for carry on. Twenty L in one bag will exceed the weight limit. I think it will have to be 5l per bag.
Posted by
Bend, OR
1082 posts
You need to be purchasing your whiskey from the duty free store at the airport and it needs to be in the sealed bag they do to be in your carryon.
Posted by
OP
Pennsylvania
26 posts
For clarification, I am asking about the checked bag which has a weight limit of about 50lb
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11946 posts
Glass or plastic bottles? What size bottle? A single 2 liter bottle will weigh less than 2 one liter bottles.
In plastic bottles 5L will be about 25lb. In glass bottles my guesstimate is add 2lb per liter.
That better be one really sturdy bag. At that weight the airline may refuse it.
I saw there is a 5L limit per person for InterEuropean flights.
Saw this where?
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5865 posts
The 5 liter limit is also a U.S. FAA restriction, so you would be limited to that when returning to the U.S.
Four people would need to check 4 bags each with 5 litres.
Posted by
OP
Pennsylvania
26 posts
Got it, thanks everyone!
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8123 posts
The restriction is a safety protocol, nothing to do with duty or customs. Basically they do not want you creating a compact ball capable of being a fire hazard.
To be honest, in a typical carry on size bag, you can only safely pack about 6 750ml or 1 liter bottles. Any more than that, you do not have enough padding to keep it from breaking (liquor bottles break easier than wine bottles), and you start running into weight issues. That carry on will wind up being 40 pounds or so. Going to a larger bag and trying to pack more, would just put you way overweight.
Rather than trying to bring so much, you may have to narrow your selection, check to see what is available in the US as a start.
Posted by
City of Seattle
1959 posts
I'm assuming Leanne and party are whiskey geeks, and will taste around Ireland buying interesting and rare bottles as they go. So duty free likely won't have the products they are interested in buying. And they will likely bring specialized luggage like the Wine Check or Vino Voyage to protect their rare fine tipple.
What I'm curious about is how the 5 liters of whiskey apportions? Six 750's plus some sort of 500ml bottle? I assume fine Irish whiskey comes in sizes more various than fine wine? It's nice that Leanne had three companions - easier to mix and match to get everyone at or close to the full 5 liter limit.
Posted by
OP
Pennsylvania
26 posts
@hank yes exactly! And many wine/whiskey geeks in the family back home