I'm going on a cruise out of Puerto Rico in March and wanted to know what the policy was on bringing liquor back to Texas. I've heard you can bring up to 5 liters. Is that right? I'm flying with American Airlines, if it matters.
liquor policy when coming back from Puerto Rico
- Thread starter bevieb05
- Start date
I would double check that, and go to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission and get an official answer. click here
IIRC correctly, the 5 liters is what you can bring back through Miami. In Texas it used to be 1 liter. My wife and I went on a cruise that ended in Acapulco, and everyone flew back to Houston on a charter flight from there. The people who had more than 1 liter had all liquor above that amount confiscated. That was over 15 years ago; so, the law may have changed, but don't depend on "what you heard."
It may be that since you are coming from Puerto Rico which is a U.S. possession, the laws may not apply. Just as if you were coming back to Texas from Louisiana. But, I would still check to be sure.
IIRC correctly, the 5 liters is what you can bring back through Miami. In Texas it used to be 1 liter. My wife and I went on a cruise that ended in Acapulco, and everyone flew back to Houston on a charter flight from there. The people who had more than 1 liter had all liquor above that amount confiscated. That was over 15 years ago; so, the law may have changed, but don't depend on "what you heard."
It may be that since you are coming from Puerto Rico which is a U.S. possession, the laws may not apply. Just as if you were coming back to Texas from Louisiana. But, I would still check to be sure.
You will be clearing US customs in Puerto Rico and its the same there any other port of enty to the US. For crew members is a single liter for passengers, it is as Jim said 5. You can bring in 4 and a fifth it is made in a US territory. Make sure you check with customs dept rather than going by the memories of Jim and myself.
Actually, you are going by Federal liquor import regulations. It is also a Federal regulation that if state law in the port of entry is stricter than Federal law, then the state law applies.
From the TABC website:
A person traveling into Texas from another state or country can bring a maximum of:
•1 gallon of distilled spirits; (that's approx. 4 fifths of liquor)
•3 gallons of wine; and
•24 twelve-ounce containers of beer
I was not aware that the Texas law also applies to travelers from another state, but the allowances are more liberal than they used to be. The website also mentions that Texas taxes must be paid on any alcoholic beverages brought in. However, as Mikey said, you will clear Customs in Puerto Rico; so, unless you get off the plane in Dallas and blab the contents of your luggage to a Customs or TABC officer, you should have no problems. In fact, you probably won't even arrive at Terminal D where all the Customs officers are located.
P.S. I hope you don't gamble away all your money in the ship's casino. If you are going to bring back 1 gallon of liquor, a case of beer, AND 3 gallons of wine, you are going to have a huge excess luggage bill to pay at the airport in San Juan.
From the TABC website:
A person traveling into Texas from another state or country can bring a maximum of:
•1 gallon of distilled spirits; (that's approx. 4 fifths of liquor)
•3 gallons of wine; and
•24 twelve-ounce containers of beer
I was not aware that the Texas law also applies to travelers from another state, but the allowances are more liberal than they used to be. The website also mentions that Texas taxes must be paid on any alcoholic beverages brought in. However, as Mikey said, you will clear Customs in Puerto Rico; so, unless you get off the plane in Dallas and blab the contents of your luggage to a Customs or TABC officer, you should have no problems. In fact, you probably won't even arrive at Terminal D where all the Customs officers are located.
P.S. I hope you don't gamble away all your money in the ship's casino. If you are going to bring back 1 gallon of liquor, a case of beer, AND 3 gallons of wine, you are going to have a huge excess luggage bill to pay at the airport in San Juan.
- Thread Starter
- #5
My flight back stops in Dallas. Am I going to have to take my luggage and go through metal detectors again or do you know if the luggage goes all the way to Houston?
I don't gamble on cruises. The casinos are rigged.
I don't gamble on cruises. The casinos are rigged.
Actually, you are going by Federal liquor import regulations. It is also a Federal regulation that if state law in the port of entry is stricter than Federal law, then the state law applies.
From the TABC website:
A person traveling into Texas from another state or country can bring a maximum of:
•1 gallon of distilled spirits; (that's approx. 4 fifths of liquor)
•3 gallons of wine; and
•24 twelve-ounce containers of beer
I was not aware that the Texas law also applies to travelers from another state, but the allowances are more liberal than they used to be. The website also mentions that Texas taxes must be paid on any alcoholic beverages brought in. However, as Mikey said, you will clear Customs in Puerto Rico; so, unless you get off the plane in Dallas and blab the contents of your luggage to a Customs or TABC officer, you should have no problems. In fact, you probably won't even arrive at Terminal D where all the Customs officers are located.
P.S. I hope you don't gamble away all your money in the ship's casino. If you are going to bring back 1 gallon of liquor, a case of beer, AND 3 gallons of wine, you are going to have a huge excess luggage bill to pay at the airport in San Juan.
I've never understood the attraction of importing booze when flying. Not only is it liquid (which is heavy) but it's almost always packaged in glass (heavy and potentially breakable). I'm not a non-drinker or opposed to alcohol - I just don't get the appeal of carrying slightly cheaper booze over long distances. Costco frequently beats duty free prices and lately, even Kroger (Ralph's here in California) has been offering an additional 30% off if you buy any six bottles of alcohol, mix and match. In that sale, Bailey's was $10.99/750ml, as cheap as I see it in the DUB airport. Absolut was the same price for any flavor. Cheaper than duty free. Recently bought some JW Blue at Costco for $125/750 ml.
If you live in a dry place, I guess it might save you a drive to an adjacent county, but if booze is available where you live, why bother carrying it when traveling? I like to keep my bags as light as possible.
If you live in a dry place, I guess it might save you a drive to an adjacent county, but if booze is available where you live, why bother carrying it when traveling? I like to keep my bags as light as possible.
There was a time when liquor--particularly when bought in St. Thomas or other U.S. Virgin Islands--was wildly cheaper than in the U.S. The difference was substantial enough to make carrying 5 liters on the plane with you as your carry-on worth it IF you were clearing Customs in SJU, MIA or LAX. As I said earlier, if your Port of Entry to the U.S. was in Texas, you could only bring in 1 liter.
The law in Texas has changed, but the cost of liquor in the Caribbean has gone up. Other than exotic liqueurs--like Bailey's, Amaretto, and the like--I don't think the difference is worth the effort any more unless the vendor is offering some special deal the day you happen to be there. I would first go to a local liquor store--especially if you have a discount chain, like Spec's in Houston--and look at their prices on weekends when they have sales. Write down the prices for the liquor you want to buy in the Caribbean. Then, decide when you are there whether or not the price difference is sufficient to justify schlepping the weight of that liquor all the way back to Houston.
Bon Voyage. Have a great time.
The law in Texas has changed, but the cost of liquor in the Caribbean has gone up. Other than exotic liqueurs--like Bailey's, Amaretto, and the like--I don't think the difference is worth the effort any more unless the vendor is offering some special deal the day you happen to be there. I would first go to a local liquor store--especially if you have a discount chain, like Spec's in Houston--and look at their prices on weekends when they have sales. Write down the prices for the liquor you want to buy in the Caribbean. Then, decide when you are there whether or not the price difference is sufficient to justify schlepping the weight of that liquor all the way back to Houston.
Bon Voyage. Have a great time.
Gone are the days of $4 Kahlua in Mexico, $5 absolut, $4 barbancourt from Haiti or the $4 Pampero from Venezuela.
I stopped buying except when I saw something unique, it just wasnt worth the hassle.
I stopped buying except when I saw something unique, it just wasnt worth the hassle.
xUT
Veteran
Wise advice!
I bought a case of St. Emilion on one of my France Trips and stuffed it into my Samsonite hard case carrier (one bag and one carry on). Needless to say, one of the bottles broke and I ended up with wine colored underwear, kind of a tie-dyed look...
(IMHO: The JW Green is much better than the Blue)
B) xUT
- Thread Starter
- #11
I find stuff I feel like I haven't seen in Houston. They'll allow glass bottles, right? Or just plastic? I guess since wine comes in a glass bottle, they have to. I was going to wrap it up in clothes and rubberbands or get some bubble wrap and wide tape from a post office.
