bringing alcohol back to canada

I havent been to Canada in several years but everytime i crossed the border each direction i was searched. Then one day i am riding with my grandmothers cousin who is canadian and we pull up to border and they ask if he has any alcohol or cigarettes. He tells them he doesnt smoke, grabs the 12 pack sitting between the seats and shows them that. They wave us on. Beer was stacked to the ceiling in the shower of his motorhome. I laugh about this alot.

We got pulled over this year for a secondary search when returning from Florida. First time in 5 years. Didn't take long and didn't make us pay duty on slightly over booze limit. Glad we left the moonshine in TN! We didn't spend much so not sure if that triggered the search. Do they not understand about our Canadian dollar! Really cut down on my retail therapy.

Thanks for all the input. I know what the rules are and what the limits are, but I was curious about booze that was purchased for consumption while away and not quite finished.

The rules are black and white, but as several have mentioned, it all boils down to the attitude of the agent on that particular day. I've been waved thru many times, yet at times pulled over because I had a case with 30 cans instead of 24. What the hell ever happened to "Free Trade?"

Nothing to worry about though, I drank everything while reading all these replies.

vwsportbug wrote:
Sometimes you run into a "stickler" border agent who seems to have an axe to grind. I crossed the border back into Canada last week and, when asked, declared my 1 full 1.75L bottle of Whiskey, 1 case of 24 beer cans + a part bottle of Whiskey(7/8 full 1.75L), a part bottle of Vodka (1/3 full 1.75L) and 6 loose cans of beer. Mainly left overs from a winter spent in FL.....

99% of the time, the border agent will wave you thru with that amount of alcohol but this time, the agent sent me in to pay the extra duty on the overage amount ($28).

Yes, I was a bit over my duty free limits after being away for 6 months but what a pain! The Customs office in Windsor isn't really set up for pulling over a large RV/truck combo. The large truck inspection area was full so I had to back out since there was no room to navigate the tight space in the car section.

You don't dare express any dissatisfaction with the border agent's decision since they are likely to send you in for a full, "rip you apart" inspection at the least provocation.

I'm sorry...but man, you were over over over. You are allowed 1.5 liters..OR 24 beerz. You had that plus another bottle of whiskey, some vodka and 6 more beers..so..what on earth are you griping about?



Gary Haupt

We often cross with "leftovers".
We declare out unopened bottles and mention the leftovers.
They ask how much and and never pulled us over.

Sometimes you run into a "stickler" border agent who seems to have an axe to grind. I crossed the border back into Canada last week and, when asked, declared my 1 full 1.75L bottle of Whiskey, 1 case of 24 beer cans + a part bottle of Whiskey(7/8 full 1.75L), a part bottle of Vodka (1/3 full 1.75L) and 6 loose cans of beer. Mainly left overs from a winter spent in FL.....

99% of the time, the border agent will wave you thru with that amount of alcohol but this time, the agent sent me in to pay the extra duty on the overage amount ($28).

Yes, I was a bit over my duty free limits after being away for 6 months but what a pain! The Customs office in Windsor isn't really set up for pulling over a large RV/truck combo. The large truck inspection area was full so I had to back out since there was no room to navigate the tight space in the car section.

You don't dare express any dissatisfaction with the border agent's decision since they are likely to send you in for a full, "rip you apart" inspection at the least provocation.

I always hide a few bottles in my gun case. They never look there.

Just hide the booze in the black tank -- the mounties will never look there. :)

We went through customs twice last year and the only things they questioned us about were guns (weapons) and pepper spray. Bear spray (must have a picture of a bear on it) is legal, pepper spray isn't.

Yep..I am very familiar with that road at the Surrey crossing and also those that do the 'buy a chocolate bar' routine. I suppose we could shoot them...they are coming back from the US, so...you know...rightfully, the US gun thing could still apply.

I am trying to envision the firing squad...."bang, sorry...bang, sorry...."


Gary Haupt