Roll Call Alaska 2014

CA Traveler wrote:

Rmolina wrote:
Yahoo! We are on our way! Left NC Friday, in KY now heading NW for a while. Will be making our sign on the way. How strict are the border folks on the amount of liquor on board? We may have over stocked!

No one can answer that because it varies. Answer their questions and go from there if you need to pay the duty. Amount of alcohol is often a asked question.

After boarding the ferry in Victoria we observed multiple agents carrying alcohol from a just arrived MH. He was not a happy camper.

I agree, no one can answer as it just depends. Much could also depend upon where you cross over. BC has a wine industry, and from three years now of reading up on getting ready for out Alaska journey, it seems they are usually more inclined to charge you per bottle, and at a pretty stiff rate.

AB has less expensive per bottle charges, at $4 a litre, and I did the math and figured if needed I'd pay the just over $300 fee for the pleasure of taking the wines we enjoy along the trip. The prices I pay for wine, even with a $4 fee tacked on, is still less then the costs at most stores especially in 'non dry' counties of AB.

We read in a recent posts of mine about which MT border to cross, that Couts(SP?) North of Shelby, had recently become more vigilant at collecting the fees - after some clown complained that one person was let thru without paying while he was charged.

As we wanted to swing by Waterton Lakes NP anyways, we crossed over to the West of Couts (up 89 for us). No one ahead of us, we drove up, turned off the diesel, answered the questions for about three mins if that, and were sent on our way.

IMO - of course answer honestly, and be prepared to pay if asked to do so. It's they way things are:)! And at least in AB crossings, it's such a small cost to the overall journey, it's just not worth worrying about.

Best to all, have fun, be safe,
Smitty