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Old 08-03-2015, 04:29 PM   #1
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liquor into BC

just curious as to peoples experiences bringing spirits over your duty free limit into BC. Does it end up costing the same, less or more than purchasing once you clear customs? I buy liquor in Montana so we dont have the high taxes of Washington state, average price for say, bacardi rum 1.75 ltr is $23-25.
thanks
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Old 08-03-2015, 04:43 PM   #2
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If you report an over limit liquor quota plan on a lengthy delay at the BC boating border crossings.

No shortage of booze in BC so best to avoid the hassle.
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Old 08-03-2015, 04:52 PM   #3
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What town are you from in Montana, we are near Three Forks.
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Old 08-03-2015, 05:04 PM   #4
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Quote:
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If you report an over limit liquor quota plan on a lengthy delay at the BC boating border crossings.

No shortage of booze in BC so best to avoid the hassle.
I only have one experience of this. I entered BC at Prince Rupert Island. I tied up at a marina and called customs/immigration on the phone. They didn't drive out to the boat. One of the questions the officer asked was if I had any wine or spirits on board. I said yes. All he said in reply was "if, in the unlikely event, you fail to consume all of your alcohol before leaving Canadian waters, you will take the remaining bottles out of the country with you, right?" To which I responded, laughingly, "yes!"

YMMV of course.

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Old 08-03-2015, 05:34 PM   #5
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Old 08-03-2015, 06:27 PM   #6
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I've often taken several partial bottles of liquor, plus my maximum beer or wine. I declare it, the customs officer (always on the phone) asks if everything will be consumed on the boat, I say yes, and they say it is "bar stock" and not subject to tax.

The worst thing you can do is not declare your liquor, get inspected, and have it found. They really don't react well to that. If you declare it, the worst they'll do is make you pay duty, and I think in most cases you'll be fine to take it across duty-free. Just be sure make sure the bottles of liquor are open and a little bit has been consumed.

As always, your mileage may vary.
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Old 08-03-2015, 06:48 PM   #7
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Whether driving flying or boating into BC the limits per person are 38.5 oz of hard liquor, 24 12 oz cans of beer or 1.5 liters of wine. The leniency of a customs person does not negate the official language.

We cross the order at least 6 times per year and have been doing for almost half a century. Never yet seen the term bar stock.
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Old 08-03-2015, 07:10 PM   #8
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When crossing into BC by automobile in June, the Canadian customs official asked if we were carrying alcohol. We said a half-dozen bottles of wine for personal consumption. That was fine with him, but he had our one apple confiscated.
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Old 08-03-2015, 08:14 PM   #9
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We report via phone with our Nexus passes. I go out of my way to be at or under the limit. I don't want to detour a couple of hours for alcohol.
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Old 08-03-2015, 08:45 PM   #10
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When we enter Ontario Canada we declare our liquor as "ships stores". Never asked for quantity.
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Old 08-03-2015, 10:00 PM   #11
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Our trawler is Portland, our plans to return to Mexico, had to be put on hold after a Mule kicked me almost two years ago. I'll be back in Portland in a couple of weeks. Still living the plan.
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Old 08-04-2015, 04:32 AM   #12
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...our plans to return to Mexico, had to be put on hold after a Mule kicked me almost two years ago...
Dang dude!!
A mule?


That's gotta smart a little!
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Old 08-04-2015, 06:04 AM   #13
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These tales are consistent with my experiences of crossing into Canada in the Midwest and on the East Coast. I always first explain that we live aboard and that we have just our normal supply with the spirits open. I then estimate the number of liters of each category. Had more problems with an onion than with my liquor supply.
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Old 08-04-2015, 08:03 AM   #14
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"The worst thing you can do is not declare your liquor, get inspected, and have it found. They really don't react well to that."

My wife, at the time, drove our land yacht across at Windsor on the way to the Trois Riviere Grand Prix hauling liquor provisions for 3 weeks and entertaining at two racetracks. She failed to declare the four cases of wine and multiple bottles of scotch and whiskey. She happened to get searched and, upon finding the contraband,...thoroughly searched! She was warned by the race team she was to be traveling with to not cross at that location but she wanted the shortest route...needles to say the team tractor/trailers beat her to the track. As this happened about 9 years ago she may still be on the "watch" list.
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Old 08-04-2015, 11:36 AM   #15
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A year or two ago, TF member Kolive (I think that's who it was) posted that he took more that the allotted amount of wine into BC and he simply payed the duty by credit card. And, I don't remember him mentioning anything about any sort of delay.
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Old 08-04-2015, 01:32 PM   #16
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A year or two ago, TF member Kolive (I think that's who it was) posted that he took more that the allotted amount of wine into BC and he simply payed the duty by credit card. And, I don't remember him mentioning anything about any sort of delay.
I think my ex's problems arose from intentionally failing to disclose and the rather large amount (in their eyes) of alcohol present. I don't think she was aware that she could declare it and pay a duty. In retrospect, as friend with a home in Quebec City later informed us, it would have been cheaper to just buy all our liquor at the SAQ as with price controls it would have been less cost than paying the duty on top of the US purchase price.
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Old 08-04-2015, 01:35 PM   #17
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we've been over the limit and declared it. Not by a lot and CA Customs let it go. Another time we were under the limit for the number of people on the boat but forgot to declare one bottle of spirits. We lost the bottle and about 1 hour of paper work plus the cost of the embarrassment from our guests.
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Old 08-04-2015, 03:56 PM   #18
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On the way back from a recent trip into Canada we stopped at the duty free store and dropped about $350 on liquor. When we got to the US Customs stop the officer asked if we had anything to declare. I told him we bought "some" liquor at the duty free shop. He waved us through without batting an eye.
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Old 08-05-2015, 04:00 AM   #19
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As CDN living on the border and crossing daily. The rule is you will ALWAYS be subject to the discretion of the officer your dealing with. Exactly what and how you declare will determine his response.
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Old 08-05-2015, 03:09 PM   #20
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OK, we've discussed this issue of how much can you bring across the border, but my question is this:


How much is the duty if they ask you to pay it? How much per liter is it going to cost you?
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