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 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

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. "

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.

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

Kevin

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.

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