Bringing Alcohol on a Plane: What You Need to Know

Can you bring alcohol on a plane? The answer is it depends. With luggage fees and packing rules, air travel is hard enough to navigate without trying to pack in a bottle of wine from your latest adventure. This guide to traveling with booze will give your next trip a little less turbulence.

A man holding a small bottle of wine on a plane.Photo byYayImages.

Can You Bring Alcohol on a Plane?

The short answer is yes, you can bring alcohol on an airplane. But the alcohol content and volume of the bottle matter. So does whether you pack it in your checked luggage or your carry-on bag.

Bringing Alcohol in Your Carry-On Luggage

You can bring alcohol on a plane in your carry-on bag. According to the According to the TSA, it has to be a mini-bottle size less than or equal to 3.4 fluid ounces. These mini liquor bottles must fit into a single, clear, quart-sized bag, along with any other liquids you need to bring on board.

Even if you can bring your mini bottles of alcohol on board, federal regulations strictly forbid passengers from consuming personal alcohol on board. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a drink.

Dos and don'ts for bringing alcohol on a plane.Photo bySage Scott.

Drinking on a Plane

If your airline carrier serves alcohol on your flight, you can typically order beer, wine, or a cocktail on board. Popular choices are bloody marys and two-ingredient drinks like rum and Cokes.

But you can step it up a notch if you prefer a more complicated drink. Stash an airplane cocktail kit in your carry-on to turn your airplane tray table into an impromptu bar. These kits contain items like sugar cubes and bitters and are a great way to ensure you have everything you need to make your favorite drinks, like an old-fashioned or a French 75. However, you’ll still need to get the boozy ingredients from the flight attendant, and not your carry-on.

Packing Alcohol in Your Checked Luggage

If you want to bring home a special bottle of wine or liqueur as a souvenir, you'll likely need to check it in your luggage due to its size. Per the current TSA guidelines, you can bring up to 5 liters or 1.3 gallons of alcohol in checked bags, as long as it’s between 24% and 70% alcohol and still in its unopened, original packaging. Any alcohol that is over 140 proof is banned. This includes Everclear (190 proof), Hapsburg Gold Label Premium Reserve Absinthe (179 proof), and Bacardi 151 (151 proof).

If it’s less than 24% alcohol, there’s no limit to how much you can pack. Lucky for this wine lover who frequently visits California’s wine regions, many wines are less than 24% alcohol!

Shipping Alcohol

Don’t have room in your suitcase or prefer to avoid the risk of a broken bottle? Most wineries can ship a bottle or box of wine to your home if traveling within the United States. The same goes for many distilleries and breweries, depending on your state’s laws for shipping alcohol.

Bringing alcohol on a plane is possible with the right knowledge and preparation. Whether packing mini bottles in your carry-on or larger bottles in your checked luggage, understanding TSA guidelines ensures a smooth experience.

Check out the full article on Everyday Wanderer for more tips for safely and successfully traveling with alcohol.