# Flying with beer in carry-ons? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 9, 2010, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514 "2010-06-09T05:40:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/1 "2010-06-09T05:40:16Z")
I’ve found some beer (three bottles) here in Belgium that I _need_ to take back to the states. Flying KLM. How does it work with sealed liquids these days? Does the fact that I’ll go through security in Brussels make a difference, do you think? I’d really really prefer not to check bags. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/2 "2010-06-09T05:42:59Z")
I don’t think that they would pass Security. Also, I believe there is an FAR that requires that alcohol be served by the cabin crew. (i.e., you couldn’t bring your flask.) Since the alcohol is not under the control of the crew, it’s probably prohibited – by the airline’s rules, if not under the FARs. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/3 "2010-06-09T05:53:37Z")
Is it the fact that it’s alcoholic or the fact that it’s more than 3oz that’s the showstopper? [http://www.brusselsairport.be/en/news/newsItems/203931](http://www.brusselsairport.be/en/news/newsItems/203931) While packing You are only allowed to take small quantities of liquids in your hand luggage. These liquids must be in individual containers with a maximum capacity of 100 millilitres each. You must pack these containers in one transparent, re-sealable plastic bag of not more than one litre capacity per passenger. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/4 "2010-06-09T06:01:54Z")
> [@Glory](#): > > Is it the fact that it’s alcoholic or the fact that it’s more than 3oz that’s the showstopper? Here’s the applicable FAR: > [@](#): > > Sec. 121.575 - Alcoholic beverages. > > (a) No person may drink any alcoholic beverage aboard an aircraft unless the certificate holder operating the aircraft has served that beverage to him. It doesn’t say a passenger can’t _bring aboard_ alcohol; just that he can’t drink it. But I think the point is moot because of the quantity. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/5 "2010-06-09T06:47:08Z")
> [@Glory](#): > > Is it the fact that it’s alcoholic or the fact that it’s more than 3oz that’s the showstopper? It’s both. You can only bring it back in checked luggage. Wrap the bottles separately in clothing, and put them in the center of your bag. Let me guess, Westvleteren 12, and a La Trappe Quadrupel? ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/6 "2010-06-09T07:28:48Z")
A Westvleteren 12, 8 and green cap. Good guess! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/7 "2010-06-09T08:06:57Z")
The EU carry-on rules are: no liquids in containers more than 100ml. No more than 10 containers (I think). All must fit in, and be packed in, a clear ziploc bag with a capacity of not more than 20cm x 20cm. I got a tube of (amazingly good) mayo removed from me at Schipol a couple of years ago because it was 150ml not 100ml. No way will you make it through with beer. Wrap it in clothes, wrap it in plastic bags, and pack it in hold luggage. An extra few minutes waiting for your bag at the end of a transatlantic flight ain’t gonna kill you, especially if the reward is lovely BEER. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/8 "2010-06-09T12:49:38Z")
You are really, really going to have to check your bag. But the good news is, you can pack more beer then! ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/9 "2010-06-09T12:51:24Z")
Considering that we’re post 9/11, no liquids over a certain amount can be taken on as carry on for any flight, unless it’s purchased in duty free at the airport. It’s a terrorism threat, I guess. I had my expensive face lotion taken away because it’s 250 mL. By the time you get to Security, your checked bags are long gone so there is little you can do but give it up. I guess what I’m saying is that you have to check it in your bag. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/10 "2010-06-09T13:48:26Z")
For flights from the EU into the USA, they use TSA rules, but it doesn’t matter, since neither would let you carry beer back in your carry on. Ship it or pack it as others have said. Or become an illegal immigrant so you can get more of the good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/11 "2010-06-09T14:55:26Z")
I have checked a couple bottles of wine in my luggage, carefully wrapped in socks and leggings. Once, I gave someone who was visiting a 4 oz. jar of Habanero-Blueberry Jam. She forgot it was in her carry-on and TSA confiscated it. I had to mail her another one. Only way you’ll get beer through is to pack it and check your luggage. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/12 "2010-06-09T15:46:55Z")
I remember bringing excellent Bermuda Triangle beer back from my honeymoon in my carry-on. Actually, it was a triangular 10pack that I put in the overhead. So sad to realize that’s not doable anymore. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/13 "2010-06-09T16:56:47Z")
As recently as two years ago, you could still buy beer packaged in carry-on containers complete with a couple of specialty glasses with the brewery logo (Leffe, Westmalle, Chimay) at the duty free shops (located past the security gates) in Brussels Airport and similar offerings in Schiphol Airport (Heineken, Grolsch) in Amsterdam… The beer and glassses were packaged tightly so as to insure no breakage of the souvenir glasses (or the bottles of beer) and the airlines never blinked when passengers were bringing them aboard. Of course no one I saw ever tried to drink the gift boxes contents in-flight, though I was tempted a few times. This may have changed in the past two years or so, but duty-free booze is a fairly large business and I can’t imagine it’s all a thing of the past. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/14 "2010-06-09T17:27:07Z")
MPB-- I think you’re correct, but this is some hard to come by semi-gray-market stuff that I suspect I can’t get at a duty-free shop (Dude. Sounds like I’m talking about a brick of opium or something). ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/15 "2010-06-09T17:46:47Z")
> [@capybara](#): > > MPB-- I think you’re correct, but this is some hard to come by semi-gray-market stuff that I suspect I can’t get at a duty-free shop (Dude. Sounds like I’m talking about a brick of opium or something). I understand completely—The difference is at the duty free shops you are buying it AFTER clearing security, so they know what is in the bottles. If it were me, I would get to the airport good and early early, and if they tell you it’s a no-go, I would just head back out to the waiting area and enjoy a little farewell tasting, rather than just surrendering three bottles of Belgian barley nectar to the airport security drones. (Seriously, I have flown in and out of Brussles Airport several times–and out of Brussels Charleroi a couple times as well–and I am sure if you went out to the benches outside by the passenger loading/unloading zones you could sit with your luggage and drink beer all day long without airport security even blinking…) Don’t let that beer go to waste!!! Cheers—Matthew ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-beer-in-carry-ons/542514/16 "2010-06-09T18:52:38Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > As recently as two years ago, you could still buy beer packaged in carry-on containers complete with a couple of specialty glasses with the brewery logo (Leffe, Westmalle, Chimay) at the duty free shops (located past the security gates) in Brussels Airport and similar offerings in Schiphol Airport (Heineken, Grolsch) in Amsterdam… > > The beer and glassses were packaged tightly so as to insure no breakage of the souvenir glasses (or the bottles of beer) and the airlines never blinked when passengers were bringing them aboard. Of course no one I saw ever tried to drink the gift boxes contents in-flight, though I was tempted a few times. > > This may have changed in the past two years or so, but duty-free booze is a fairly large business and I can’t imagine it’s all a thing of the past. Even if someone were to do this, they’d still have to check it or have it confiscated when going through customs in the US if they have a connecting flight. No problem if their final destination is the first place they touch down in the US.