Alcohol on the plane: allowances and customs regulations. How much alcoholic beverages can be carried in the luggage of the plane

Many people cannot imagine a flight without a favorite tradition of drinking on it. But, not on all rails alcohol is presented in the same assortment and quantity, and in some it is not included at all in the service package. In addition, experienced travelers note that airlines have begun to limit the amount of alcohol per passenger.

charter rails

Such flights are practically alcohol-free. The reason is the efforts of carriers to make tickets cheaper. You can't even buy booze on separate rails. This is due to tour operators who, in order to save money, simplify the service on board the aircraft to a minimum.

Since charter rails are designed to fly to unpopular cities, they are most often used by families or business people than tourists and vacationers. This is another reason for the lack of alcohol on the plane. On some charters, you can still buy alcohol, but it is mainly represented by weak alcoholic beverages (beer or wine).

Regular rails

In planes with regular routes, booze is included in the package, and you can also buy it. For each class, the quality and quantity of alcohol is different.

Business class and first class. Here, alcohol is calculated in the amount of 250 ml of alcohol of any strength (vodka, wine, champagne, beer) plus 2 bottles from the mini-bar of elite drinks (liquor, gin, martini and others) per person. If the flight is very long, passengers are additionally offered 50 ml of cognac or liquor with an obligatory snack in the form of a cake.
Economy class. The choice here is limited. Passengers are offered a choice of wine (in the amount of 0.187) and beer (1 can with a volume of 0.33 liters).

depending on airlines and internal rules the volume of alcohol may be less than the established norm. On the other hand, if there is an extra drink left, it is allowed to be divided among those who wish.

Alcohol is served only with hot food. But, if the flight is carried out at night or in the morning (before 9:00), alcohol is not included in the diet at all. This information is indicated on the ticket under the abbreviation HM.

Passengers can always purchase alcoholic drinks for separate fee but usually very expensive. An exception is the drinks of national winemakers, which are much cheaper and emphasize the patriotism of airlines.

If there is no alcohol on board the aircraft, and the purchase option does not suit you, under certain conditions, passengers are allowed to take it with them. According to the rules, it is strictly forbidden to drink drinks brought with you. But travelers often neglect these requirements. Usually problems only occur in very drunk individuals. You can bring booze into the cabin only in a certain amount.

Alcohol in hand luggage

Passengers can take with them no more than 1 liter of alcoholic beverage in a container not exceeding 100 ml (maximum 10 bottles). Bottles must be properly sealed.

Alcohol from Duty Free

There are no restrictions on the number, but containers with alcohol should not be printed. In addition, the packaging containing the bottles must be transparent and remain intact before the aircraft takes off.

Alcohol in luggage

Has its own limitations.

Alcohol with a strength of up to 24% - in any quantity.
Alcohol with a strength of 24% - 70% - up to 5 liters per person.
Transportation of alcohol with a strength of more than 70% is prohibited.

If you managed to carry alcohol, then problems may arise during landing. Some countries have restrictions on the amount of alcohol that passengers can bring with them. For excess alcohol, they can impose a fine or not be allowed into the country at all.

Turkey - 1 liter of spirits or 2 bottles of wine with a volume of 700 ml each;
Egypt - 1 liter;
Thailand - 1 liter;
Tunisia - 1 bottle 700 ml;
Cyprus - 2 liters of alcohol with a strength of up to 22% (champagne, liquor, sparkling wine) or 1 liter of alcohol with a strength of more than 22%, as well as 4 liters of wine, up to 16 liters of beer.

Usually, as soon as the liner taxis to runway, the smell of alcohol is clearly beginning to be felt in the cabin: these are our most nervous or cheerful compatriots clapping "on the staff." On takeoff, they roll "on the stirrup", and when the ship's commander asks to unfasten the belts, the "hill" follows. Further, as they say, with all the stops. However, only a few get drunk seriously, and most passengers still limit themselves to those drinks that the stewardess pours. Experienced travelers Incidentally, we noticed that Lately on board, "spill" becomes more limited, if not included in the mandatory package of services provided in the aircraft. Why is that?

Regular respect

Passengers of regular flights can fly safely: they still pour here. For example, Aeroflot gives out limited doses of strong and not very alcoholic drinks. For the first and business class, this is 250 ml of any alcohol (including champagne, cognac, vodka) + 2 small bottles from the minibar (whiskey, gin, martini, liquor, etc.). If the flight is long and includes repeated pouring, "important" passengers are entitled to an additional dessert: 50 ml of liquor or cognac with a snack in the form of a cake.

In economy class, everything is more modest. 1 can of beer (0.33) or mini-bottle (0.187) of dry white or red wine is offered. Moreover, personal bottles are given out on prestigious flights (for example, to Europe), and on simpler routes (domestic in Russia), it can be seen that it goes to spill at the rate of only 100 ml per nose.

However, even this modest dose is not always required, but only for a full hot meal, which is indicated on the ticket by the abbreviation HM. On night and early departures (before 9:00 a.m.), a "cut down" ration without alcohol is served. Still no time for drinking.

Airlines tend to offer drinks from national winemakers on board - this is not only patriotic, but also cheap. Our carriers have a special attachment to Moldovan "Cabernet" and "Sauvignon". Therefore there is a big difference whether you fly to Italy with Aeroflot or Al Italia.

"Dry" charters

But on charter destinations Recently there has been a tendency not to pour. Why? It's just that flight organizers, in a painful struggle for a client, are trying to reduce the cost of transportation and save on everything they can, including alcohol. At the same time, the absence of alcohol is not at all the fault of the airline. Charter customers are tour operators who form the entire trip program, and therefore determine the set of services, including on board.

“It is understood that charters are initially designed for customers who prefer to save money. And if a company includes a flight at the lowest possible price in the price, then it has a choice - to offer people alcohol plus a modest lunch or richer meals, but without booze. As a rule, we we choose the latter," explains Galina Gorshkova, who oversees the transportation of the tour operator company IntAer.

At first glance, it seems that the savings are scanty, because for dinner they offer inexpensive wines and beer of domestic production, which are also purchased at wholesale prices. The cost of the air ticket from this increases ... by less than half a dollar. But equipping the entire aircraft with alcohol already costs $ 100-200, and the company has neither 10 nor 20 such boards per season. Olga Sorokina, head of the flight attendant service of the Atlant-Soyuz airline, claims that on average the cost of food and service on board ( including dishes, napkins, etc.) is $4, and "an increase of half a dollar - in terms of large volumes of transportation - translates into an impressive amount."

We advise especially nervous people to drink a glass of wine before takeoff, or even better - 50 ml of any of the strong drinks as a sedative (but no more, no more!). Aesculapius argue that alcohol dilates blood vessels, lowers blood pressure, inhibits nervous reactions and helps to gain an optimistic outlook on life. The only problem is that drinks on boarding the plane are offered only to first-class passengers (the so-called welkome-drink). In economy class, the request to "pour immediately" is unlikely to be respected. But don't be discouraged: knowledgeable people they say that the more you take, the more you feel sick on the decline.

Yes, it is also worth recalling that according to industry standards for short routes(for example, to Varna) they don’t give hot meals at all, to which a glass of alcohol is supposed to go - instead they offer a lunch box with cold snacks and coffee. An exception can be made on an individual basis if the client pays for "enhanced" meals (and drinks). Ordering a special ration will increase the ticket price by about $10, which makes you wonder if it would be easier to take a bottle with you?

Take her!

Yes, of course, the simplest workaround for "prohibition" on an airplane is to stock up on duty-free and skip a little at your own expense. But here's the paradox: according to the rules of conduct on board, passengers should not drink drinks brought with them. Strictly speaking, duty-free bottles can only be opened and drunk outside the ship. And the steward has the right to prohibit you from drinking during the flight. Imagine!

However, in practice this rule only applies when the passenger is drunk and aggressive. In this case, the boozoter may even be denied the sale of alcohol in the “shop on board”. And if you quietly sip the collection cognac, do not pinch the young ladies and do not threaten the safety of the flight, do not worry: you will not be disturbed. Especially if you are, say, a first-class client and refuse the offered drinks, because in life you use exclusively "Veuve Clicquot", a bottle of which you prudently took with you. Is it forbidden to live beautifully?

If the booze that you brought with you is over, and the flight attendant refuses a glass of wine, you can turn to duty-free services on board. The assortment of alcohol in the "magic cart" is standard, only the number of carts themselves changes depending on the size of the aircraft and the flight distance (for example, three such trays are loaded on an Il-86 flying to Larnaca, five on a flight to Bangkok). Guess which drinks are the hottest? Of course, you are right: whiskey and Baileys.

When children are happy

If you expect to take not one, but two or three glasses on the plane, you can pre-calculate non-drinking fellow travelers and ask them to take alcohol for you, just do not persuade school-age children to do this. By the way, the more children on the flight, the more likely it is to get a supplement from the unused, because the catering department loads the same amount of alcohol every time, without looking into the passport data of passengers. And you can, without letting go of the steward, immediately pour yourself a double norm - what if it's not enough? True, in crowded conditions it is terribly uncomfortable to sit, surrounded by plastic cups that strive to fall and spill.

strong additive

Alcohol is loaded on board in an amount corresponding to the number of seats on the plane. However, an addition to the diet is possible - due to the fact that someone prefers beer to wine and vice versa. And since only 50-70% of passengers drink alcohol, as a rule, those who wish are not denied an additional glass. It is easier to get it in those cases when the wine goes on tap, because the flight attendants do not need to leave unfinished bottles open (but you can save the portioned bottles!). They usually offer to drink twice - first an aperitif, and then, if something is left, then after a meal. You can, of course, "repeat" in the first class, although more than 250 ml of strong drinks for the body, you understand, is not at all useful.

“When a steward is asked for an additive, he must assess the passenger’s condition. If he is incapacitated, he should be refused - but always in the correct form. Let’s say you can say that all the alcohol on board has come out and offer juice instead,” these are the instructions , according to the head of the technical department of Aeroflot, Yuri Korsakov, his employees receive.

If a person "stands on his feet" (or at least sits confidently in a chair), he will not be refused. Here is what one of the flight attendants says: “I will never refuse a normal person. My colleagues and I pour while there is, - sometimes there is simply nothing left. How can you refuse a passenger an extra 200 ml of wine when he paid even 200 bucks for a ticket? I even got deductions a couple of times (this is when the steward has to pay out of his own pocket for overspending), but I always defended my point of view. To be honest, I saw these norms!"

On this optimistic note, we will end. Let's just say that on New Year's flights, all airlines offer passengers champagne, and for free. To your health!

Alina Gordeeva
CHUK and GEK / December / 2003

Foreign countries and cities attract tourists not only ancient architecture and bewitching landscapes - people tend to bring home souvenirs, rare exotic goods and, of course, alcohol. As a result, many travelers are puzzled - is it possible to carry alcohol in luggage on an airplane, in what quantities and are there any special conditions for transportation?

For those who are going to take strong drinks with them, it is important to know the rules and regulations for transporting alcohol, in particular, to know how much alcohol you can carry on an airplane in your luggage so as not to end up in an unpleasant situation. In case of violation of these rules, you will be subject to the forced withdrawal of drinks, a fine, or even removal from the flight.

Permitted allowance for the transport of alcohol in the Russian Federation

Within Russia, the carriage of alcoholic beverages in the baggage of an aircraft is allowed, subject to several rules:

Alcohol with a strength of up to 24 degrees can be transported in any volume if you are already 21 years old.
Alcohol with a strength of 24 to 70 degrees is allowed to be transported in limited quantities - no more than 5 liters per passenger.
Transportation of alcohol stronger than 70 degrees is prohibited under any pretext.

There are also norms for the import of alcohol into Russia from abroad. You can deliver to Russian territory no more than 2 liters of alcohol with a strength of up to 70 degrees. With voluntary payment of the duty, it is allowed to carry another 3 liters of alcohol. Only 1 liter of alcohol above 22 degrees and 2 liters of less strong drinks can be taken out of Russia.

Rules for transporting alcohol to other states

The rules for transporting strong drinks on foreign flights depend on the customs regulations adopted in a particular country. In the European Union, airline passengers can carry in their baggage one type of alcoholic product, presented in the list below:

One bottle of any alcoholic drink of any strength;
Drinks with a strength of up to 22 degrees - up to 2 liters;
Wine drinks - up to 4 liters;
Beer drinks - up to 16 liters.

If you are bringing alcohol from another country and you have to transfer in an EU country, then the liquid will be subject to seizure. There are a number of countries in which the import of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited - among them the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives. Therefore, before the flight, you should familiarize yourself with the rules for importing alcoholic beverages into a particular country.

Alcohol in hand luggage

Travelers take liquor with them into the cabin for a variety of reasons. Someone thinks that carrying alcohol in luggage carries certain risks - as you know, suitcases at airports are handled carelessly and bottles can break. In the event that no damage is found on the suitcase itself, no one will reimburse the amount of the damaged goods. Someone believes that alcohol on an airplane flight will help to cope with fear and pass the time. In any case, you need to know the norms and permitted volumes of transported liquids.

Aeroflot allows you to carry in hand luggage alcoholic drinks weighing no more than 100 g in their original packaging, sealed in a plastic bag with a zipper. The integrity of the packaging without fail checked before departure. At the same time, buying and drinking alcohol sold on board the aircraft is not prohibited.

Rules for carrying alcohol from duty-free in baggage

Duty-free shops located at airports attract tourists with their low prices and a huge range of various goods, including alcoholic beverages. Alcohol from customs-free shops is transported according to "special" rules.

A special joy for travelers is that the generally accepted restrictions do not apply to the transportation of alcohol purchased in duty-free. You can carry any alcohol in any quantity, both in the luggage of the aircraft and in the cabin.

The main thing to remember is that purchased drinks must be packed in branded bags and that you should not open this package until the end of the flight.

Restrictions on carrying alcohol from duty-free can be encountered on flights of American air carriers. U.S. airlines only allow bottles that were purchased on their territory in their carry-on baggage. local airports. There are no restrictions on carrying strong drinks in checked baggage. In the event that a passenger has to transfer in one of the EU countries, duty-free alcohol purchased in a non-Schengen country will still have to be carried in baggage.

Air carriers often independently set the norms for the transport of alcoholic beverages. In order to save your nerves and time, it is worth studying the set of rules before taking alcohol with you. All necessary information airlines provide on official websites.

You probably think that there is nothing more reasonable and soothing to do on board an airplane than having a couple of glasses to relax and kill time. But this is rarely a good idea, and here are 9 reasons why you should never do it!

The feeling of intoxication will be stronger

The fact is that there is much less oxygen in the cabin than on the ground, which enhances the effect of alcohol and can aggravate altitude sickness.

You may miss your connecting flight

If the drunk "does not disappear" during the flight and rushes to connecting flight, the airport service will most likely stop you when you land on it and prevent you from getting on the plane.

You may be arrested

After all, in a state of even mild alcohol intoxication, getting into some kind of trouble is not difficult for anyone!

Swinging becomes simply grandiose proportions

Because nothing is more irritating to your stomach than milk, alcohol, and compressed oxygen.

You will enter the turbulence zone at the most inopportune time.

Flight attendants don't care if you have to run to the toilet like a woman eight months pregnant.

You'll have to wait for your luggage while you're hungover

You will have to wait for your luggage with several hundred other people, experiencing only one irresistible desire - to take a nap.

You can't leave the airport on your own

Be prepared to leave your car in the long-term and expensive airport parking lot and take a taxi home. And then return by taxi to the airport to pick up the car.

Everyone will hate you

Because your friends aren't the only ones who don't like hearing your drunken tirades about your boss, your ex, and your neighbor's rude Yorkies.

If you drink in the morning, your day is lost

If you skip a couple of drinks at 11am, the most productive thing you'll be able to do the rest of the day is brush your teeth.

From foreign films, we are talking about the fact that drinking is allowed on board the aircraft. However, the situation looks somewhat different when they try to carry alcohol as baggage. Before you check in, ask in advance about the rules for transporting alcoholic beverages by air.

Otherwise, the passenger may be prevented from boarding, confiscated alcohol, or fined. To begin with, ask yourself a question: will you carry alcohol as baggage, or express a desire to drink it on board. With the first option, everything is much simpler.

Within Russian flights, state legislation applies:

Drinks containing up to 24% alcohol can be transported by persons over the age of 21 without restrictions;
Alcohol stronger than 24-70% has the right to transport persons who have reached the age of majority, at the rate of 5 liters per individual.

In countries far abroad the carriage of alcoholic and alcoholic beverages is carried in accordance with the current customs legislation of the country where you are staying. The rules of transportation can be obtained in advance from the embassy of the country, from the tour operator or the airline providing tickets.

It is allowed to export from Russia to other states 1 liter of high-percentage alcoholic beverage, 2 liters of wine, cigarettes, no more than one block. For example, in Saudi Arabia The import of alcohol is strictly prohibited. It is allowed to import two liters of alcohol of any strength into Russia. It is also possible to import up to 10 liters, but at the checkpoint it will be necessary to pay duty, excise duty and VAT. It is unlikely that the purchase will seem profitable to you.

So, how much alcohol is allowed to take with you to the salon?

IN aircraft the carriage of alcohol is established by the rules for the carriage of manual cargo. Based on the established rules, a passenger is allowed to take with him no more than 100g. alcohol, in the factory container, packed in a plastic bag.

International flights approached the issue more prudently. It is allowed to carry in the cabin of the aircraft alcoholic beverages purchased in Duty-Free and packed in special bags containing the store's logo.

However, here too there may be surprises.

If you are traveling by air from a non-Schengen country and have a transfer in a Schengen country, the packages with the contents will be asked to be transferred to your checked baggage.

In the United States, alcohol purchased only in duty-free stores in the country is transported.

Permission to carry alcohol in the cabin does not mean that it is allowed to drink it on board. The established rules are regulated by the airline. In some cases, the airline allows you to drink in the cabin, bought directly on board.

There are also airlines that adhere to prohibition on board. Before bringing alcohol by air, check with the administration of the airline where you purchased the ticket for the import and export of alcoholic beverages.