How much Beer or ale can I bring into France?
Allowed
You can bring Beer or ale into France without a special limit.
Extra conditions apply
What you need to know
- 16 liter (541.02 US fl oz)
- Channels: Carried with the traveler
- Extra conditions apply
On the plane
Airline differences
| Airline | Difference from the baseline |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) | Stricter than the standard rule |
Important
This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.
Official sources
- Démarche : Vous rapportez du tabac, de l'alcool ou d'autres marchandises achetées hors de l'Union européenne Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
Questions about Beer or ale in France
- How much beer or ale can I bring into France?
- France allows 16 liters of beer or ale per traveller without duty. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
- Do I have to declare beer or ale at France customs?
- No — within the allowance it passes without a declaration.
- What happens if I do not declare beer or ale in France?
- If you declare the excess yourself, the normal duty becomes payable on the excess. Under Code des douanes, article L. 513-3, if it is treated as smuggling: it is prosecuted as a criminal offence. Under Code des douanes, article R. 515-5, 1°, if the goods are found without being declared: an administrative fine is imposed; the goods are confiscated.
- Can I post or ship beer or ale to France instead of carrying it?
- Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.
- Is there a minimum age for the beer or ale allowance in France?
- Yes — 17 years. A traveller under that age gets no allowance for beer or ale at all, not a smaller one.
- Can I take beer or ale out of France?
- France publishes no separate rule for taking beer or ale out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
- Does the France limit for beer or ale apply per person or per family?
- Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.
- Where does this rule come from?
- Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) states it in Démarche : Vous rapportez du tabac, de l'alcool ou d'autres marchandises achetées hors de l'Union européenne. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “Bières : 16 litres”
- How does France compare with other countries on beer or ale?
- Of the 20 countries covered here, 1 prohibit beer or ale, 8 limit it and 11 let it through. France is among the more permissive.
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Démarche : Vous rapportez du tabac, de l'alcool ou d'autres marchandises achetées hors de l'Union européenne · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Démarche : Vous rapportez du tabac, de l'alcool ou d'autres marchandises achetées hors de l'Union européenne · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Vous rapportez du tabac, de l'alcool ou d'autres marchandises achetées hors de l'Union européenne · verified 2026-09-20
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — france postOrCourier · verified 2026-09-20
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Vous rapportez du tabac, de l'alcool ou d'autres marchandises achetées hors de l'Union européenne · verified 2026-09-20
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Démarche : Vous rapportez du tabac, de l'alcool ou d'autres marchandises achetées hors de l'Union européenne · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Démarche : Vous rapportez du tabac, de l'alcool ou d'autres marchandises achetées hors de l'Union européenne · verified 2026-09-19