Can I Bring Alcohol on a plane ?

For those who want to know if they can bring alcohol when they travel by air, the short answer is “Yes.” However, there are certain restrictions and conditions to be aware of. It’s advisable to check the TSA’s official page on Alcoholic beverages to get the most accurate and updated information.

In this post, I will cover everything you need to know about flying with alcoholic beverages and the associated TSA rules.

What TSA said about traveling with Alcoholic Beverages on a plane?

In total, TSA have three kind of items that come together in this topic :

• Alcoholic Beverages
• Alocholic Beverages Over 140 Proof
• Wine Bottles

*TSA rules for Alcoholic Beverages as of October 16, 2023

Plain language, the rules apply to every kind of alcohol bottle, including:

• Sealed Alcohol Bottle
• Unopened Alcohol Bottle
• Alcohol Shooters
• Alcohol Nips
• Alcohol Shots
• Flask Alcohol
• Alcohol in a Can
• Alcohol in a bottle
• Mini Alcohol Bottle

Can I bring alcoholic beverages in carry-on baggage?

Yes, you can bring alcoholic beverages in your carry-on baggage, but the quantity is limited to 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less per item, as per the TSA’s liquids rule. This rule stipulates that all liquids, gels, and aerosols carried through the security checkpoint must be in 3.4 ounce or smaller containers and all containers must fit in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag.

Each passenger is allowed one plastic quart-size bag. Alcohol with an alcohol content of 24% alcohol by volume (ABV) or less is not subject to any other limitations in carry-on baggage.

Can I bring alcoholic beverages in checked baggage?

Yes, alcoholic beverages are allowed in checked baggage. The rules vary based on the alcohol content:

• Alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of 24% ABV or less are not subject to any limitations in checked baggage.
• Alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content between 24% and 70% ABV are limited to 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per passenger and must be in unopened retail packaging.
• Alcoholic bottle with an alcohol content of more than 70% ABV (over 140 proof) are not permitted in either carry-on or checked baggage.

How Can I know these information ?

Now, you can ask me how can you know the Alcohol By Volume (ABV) and the volume of the bottle. Right ?

You should inspect the label carefully, by law, alcoholic beverages must have their ABV and volume clearly mentioned on the label. It’s typically shown as a percentage for the ABV and as milliliters or liters for the volume. For example, a label might display “40% ABV, 750 fl oz.

ABV: It tells you what portion of the total liquid is alcohol. This is typically displayed as a percentage, e.g., “13.5% ABV” on a wine bottle or “40% ABV” on a spirit bottle.

Volume: This indicates the total quantity of liquid in the bottle. It’s commonly mentioned in fluid ounces (fl oz). Look for indications like “750 fl oz” or “32 fl oz.”

Well, this is something easy but mandatory to check because in case of missing information in the label: If your bottle doesn’t display the ABV or volume, it could be a red flag for TSA agents.

If the volume on an alcoholic bottle (or any liquid product) is mentioned in liters (L) instead of the more customary U.S. fluid ounces, pints, quarts, or gallons, TSA agents in the United States will still recognize and understand the measurement.

After all, many imported products use the metric system for labeling.

From you side, use an online converter to understand the volume in galion.

Can I bring Duty-Free Alcohol on a Plane ?

Yes, you can bring alcohol from duty-free shops on board the plane. However, the bottles brought should be sealed in tamper-evident bags by shops. So, don’t open it until you reach your final destination, because in connections, there may be some control that might result in the alcohol being confiscated when the bag is open.

Other Items related for Traveling with Alcohol Drinks:

From the items related to Alcohool, we need to mention that the “Wine opener with blade” is not allowed due to the blade it contains, which could potentially be used as a weapon. However, it is allowed in checked baggage where it’s securely stored away during the flight. This rule exemplifies the stringent security measures in place to ensure the safety and security of all passengers on board.

Can You Drink alcohol during the flight?

While you can bring your own alcohol on board, under some conditions, FAA regulations prohibit travelers from consuming alcohol on the aircraft unless it is served by a flight attendant.

This rule is in place regardless of whether the alcohol was brought on board as carry-on or purchased from the flight attendants. The flight crew also are not permitted to serve alcohol to passengers who appear to be intoxicated.

The odor of alcohol might disturb other passengers, and excessive drinking could lead to unruly behavior.