What is the maximum amount of alcohol and tobacco that can be brought into France from abroad? Here is the detail country by country.
Summer holidays are often an opportunity to go abroad, to attractive destinations for their geographical location and their weather. Among them, some may even have the advantage of offering products for sale at prices much lower than those in France. Some border countries with France, such as Spain, Andorra, Italy or Luxembourg, allow you to make purchases without breaking the bank. If the prices charged on everyday purchases are already attractive, those on products involving a public health issue are even more so. Understand: Buying cigarettes and alcohol across the border will hurt the wallet less. Unless you are too greedy in quantity and get caught by customs. Here are the rules to know.
Spain is known to charge much lower prices for alcohol and cigarettes compared to France. Many French people go to the border on the Mediterranean side (Perthus, Jonquera) or the Atlantic side (Irun, Ibardin, etc.) to fill their shopping carts. Elsewhere in the country, rates can be just as attractive. What maximum quantities of each product can be brought back?
Quantities listed are per person 17 years of age or older.
Same story with Luxembourg, a country also renowned for being able to shop at low cost. To cross the border again without risking being outside the law, a few quantity rules must also be respected, similar to those for returning from Spain.
Quantities listed are per person 17 years of age or older.
Italy is also famous for its much cheaper shopping baskets than in France. Crossing to the other side of the Alps is commonplace, especially for locals. Latte and Ventimiglia are among the popular destinations. To get home without a hitch, what shouldn’t you go over?
Quantities listed are per person 17 years of age or older.
Coming back from Andorra, the arrangements are different. If, in appearance, it is possible to buy more tobacco, the reality is different since the quantities are not cumulative. Thus, buying as many cigarettes as possible does not allow you to return to France with, in addition, cigars or smoking tobacco. An assortment is however possible, in a proportional way: if you buy a carton of cigarettes (2/3 of the authorized total), it is possible to complete with 25 cigars or 50 cigarillos or 130 grams of rolling tobacco (1/3 of the total allowed). For alcohol, it’s the same principle (wine is not included in the calculation). If you wish to buy different types of alcohol, it is for example authorized to buy 75cl of gin and 1.5 liters of Port (half of each authorized limit). Buying 2 liters of Muscat will give you the possibility of taking 50cl of whisky.
Quantities listed are per person 17 years of age or older.
The rules in force on the quantities of alcohol and tobacco authorized to be brought back to mainland France are not very numerous on an international scale. In fact, provisions exist in relation to the countries of the European Union, Andorra… and the rest of the world. Thanks to our search engine, find out exactly what you can bring back in quantity from any country on the planet.
In the event of non-compliance with these rules and a customs check, the offender is liable to a fine of €750, but also to the payment of consumption rights (the amounts of which are indicated here), as well as confiscation of its proceeds and a one-year prison sentence.
