Hi All, I want to buy as a gift some high quality "Vodka" i.e., Absolute, Stoli's;etc. for a friend in Europe . Is it(in general) cheaper to buy it at the "duty free shop" at San Francisco Int'l Airport,or in a regular liquor store in Vienna, Prague ,or Amsterdam? thanks in advance.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
It depends on which country you'll buy it in but I would expect that you'll find good vodka for a lower price in Europe than you can at the San Francisco airport. All "duty free" mean is that you don't pay federal taxes.
Posted by
Pearland, TX, USA
852 posts
Hi Jim,
You might buy a couple of bottles abroad. Then, when you return to the US, get in the "something to declare" line of US Customs. Whether you actually pay duty or not, you will have been in (and promptly out of) the short line - and be halfway home before the others clear through the "nothing to declare" Customs facility.
P.
Posted by
OP
Walnut Creek, Ca., U.S.A.
15 posts
Thanks for your input!
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5865 posts
It will really depend on how liquor is taxed in the country to which you are going. For example, because Sweden has such high taxes on alcohol, a bottle of Absolut is cheaper at a U.S. duty free shop than it is in Sweden at the liquor store.
If you do not have a direct flight, check the rules before you buy at a duty free. Depending on where you change planes, you may or may not be able to bring the liquor with you.
Posted by
OP
Walnut Creek, Ca., U.S.A.
15 posts
the country I want to give the gift of Vodka to a friend happens to be in Vienna, Austria.That said, I'll have a short layover in Frankfurt.Thanks.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5865 posts
Hi Jim, If you are flying from the U.S to Vienna with a layover in Frankfurt, I don't think you will be able to buy duty free in the U.S. with the layover. I'm not sure though. The EU lets you transfer with duty free liquids from another EU airport, but I don't think they let you transfer with duty free liquids from a non-EU country. I would find out about this before you buy.