# Alcohol crossing the Canadian Border into U.S.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-crossing-the-canadian-border-into-u-s/208711>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 21, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-crossing-the-canadian-border-into-u-s/208711 "2003-10-21T15:11:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![criminalcatalog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@criminalcatalog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/criminalcatalog)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-crossing-the-canadian-border-into-u-s/208711/1 "2003-10-21T15:11:57Z")

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Canadian Dopers: What is the regulatory limit to bringing liquers from Vancouver to Washington (the state, not the district)? I work with someone that’s wanting to buy some for a wedding, and I’ve been looking without success.

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**Author:** ![McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDeath_the_Mad)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-crossing-the-canadian-border-into-u-s/208711/2 "2003-10-21T16:13:56Z")

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I know going from the US to Canada you can bring 1 litre duty free if you’ve been down there for more than 24 hours (maybe 48). You can bring more, you just have to pay duty.

I’m assuming it’s the same going to the states.

MtM

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**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-crossing-the-canadian-border-into-u-s/208711/3 "2003-10-21T16:45:22Z")

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**McDeath** is probably referring to this regulation on travelers importing alcohol to the U.S. (found [here](http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/know_brochure/dutyfree_exemption.xml)):

> [@](#):
>
> Alcoholic Beverages: One liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be included in your exemption if:
> 
> ```
> * You are 21 years old.
> * It is for your own use or as a gift.
> * It does not violate the laws of the state in which you arrive.
> 
> ```
> 
> Federal regulations allow you to bring back more than one liter of alcoholic beverage for personal use, but, as with extra tobacco, you will have to pay duty and Internal Revenue Service tax.

Since this is for a wedding, you’ll probably need more than one litre, and therefore have to pay duty; [this incredibly complicated PDF](http://dataweb.usitc.gov/SCRIPTS/tariff/0310c22.pdf) breaks down the duty structure. Different types of alcohol have different duty rates, so you’ll have to consult the file to find out how much your friend will have to pay.

Also, it might be wise to check with the WA state liquor control board, to see if there are state regulations you might run afoul of.

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**Author:** ![criminalcatalog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@criminalcatalog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/criminalcatalog)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-crossing-the-canadian-border-into-u-s/208711/4 "2003-10-21T19:56:36Z")

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thanks, **MikeS**. Turns out that it’s too expensive.