Taking alcohol into Canada on a visit
 

Hi all,

I'm Canadian but now living in the US. We will be visiting Canada this weekend for a large family get together. I have never taken alcohol in before so I don't really know the details but after looking up the CCRA website I see that we're allowed to take 1.14L of alcohol into the country.

The thing is, we are 4 people in the car. However, 2 are kids! One's a baby actually :p Does anyone know if they will count it as "4 people" or just 2 people?

I have heard of people considering customs allowances of X people, where X includes kids, babies and all.

Really looking to take in 2 x 1.7L bottles per the request of my cousin but don't want to get held up or even pulled aside to line up and pay duty etc. Gets to be a pain when you have 2 kids in the car. We have only had to do that once in the past over 100 crossings and it took forever just to pay for stuff...

Thanks!

Kevin

Re: Taking alcohol into Canada on a visit
 

You only had to pay once??? Wow, lucky you. I've had to pay 9/10 last trips. It's not a lot but it turns the crossing into an hour or so :(

I've never brought alcohol back in my kid's name, but this suggests it might not be possible - http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/...rc4044-06e.pdf - although you're not a resident, are you? So I don't know what rules would apply to you...

"Even young children and infants are entitled to a personal exemption. As a parent or guardian, you can make a declaration to the CBSA for a child, as long as the goods you are declaring are for the child’s use. "

Re: Taking alcohol into Canada on a visit
 

ugh... ok well my grandma used to recommend putting a few drops of brandy into water to cure something (don't remember what) but our 24m old and a 2 1/2m haven't had any alcohol, so that isn't going to work. :eek:

I'm Canadian but now living in the US, just got my greencard last week.

Kevin

Re: Taking alcohol into Canada on a visit
 

I believe that, in your case, Kevin, the information for visitors to Canada will apply.

According to page 7 of the Canada Border Services Agency's Information for Visitors to Canada, only a person who meets the minimum age requirement for drinking alcoholic beverages in the province or territory by which he/she enters Canada may import alcohol. The minimum age is 18 years in some provinces and 19 years in others.

I interpret that to mean that your kids may not import alcohol into Canada.

Edited to add this point of clarification.

Although you are a Canadian, you are living outside of Canada, so I believe you are considered to be a visitor to Canada for customs purposes. If you were returning to live in Canada, I believe the rules that would apply in that case are covered in another CBSA publication called Moving Back to Canada. On page 9 of that book it also states that a person has to meet the minimum age requirement of the relevant province or territory in order to import alcohol.

Re: Taking alcohol into Canada on a visit
 

That was what I read too and thought at first.. but was hoping that I was reading it wrong. :D