How much Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) can I bring into France?
Restricted
You can bring Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) into France only within the stated limits.
Above 22% ABV
What you need to know
- 0.25 liter (8.45 US fl oz)
- Channels: Arrival duty-free, Carried with the traveler, Post or courier
- Above 22% ABV
- These allowances split a shared cap proportionally between products.
On the plane
Airline differences
| Airline | Difference from the baseline |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) | Stricter than the standard rule |
Important
The quantity limit is applied at the officer's discretion.
This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.
Official sources
- Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
Questions about Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) in France
- How much alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) can I bring into France?
- France allows 0.25 liters of alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) per traveller. Above that the goods are treated as an import and duty becomes payable. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
- Do I have to declare alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) at France customs?
- Only above the allowance. Up to 0.25 liters of alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) there is nothing to declare; beyond it you take the goods through the red channel and pay the duty.
- What happens if I do not declare alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) 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.
- Do duty-free purchases count toward the France allowance for alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over)?
- Yes. What you buy in an arrival duty-free shop comes out of the same allowance, so the shop does not add to what you may already be carrying.
- Can I post or ship alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) 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 alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) allowance in France?
- Yes — 17 years. A traveller under that age gets no allowance for alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) at all, not a smaller one.
- Can I take alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) out of France?
- France publishes no separate rule for taking alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
- Does the France limit for alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) 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 Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-16. The sentence it rests on reads: “BOISSONS ALCOOLIQUES Quantités admises pour les boissons alcooliques Produits Quantités Vins tranquilles (non mousseux) 0,5 litre”
- How does France compare with other countries on alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over)?
- Of the 21 countries covered here, 1 prohibit alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over), 11 limit it and 9 let it through. France is among the ones that set a limit.
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs · verified 2026-09-16
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs · verified 2026-09-16
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) — Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs · verified 2026-09-16
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs · verified 2026-09-16
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) — Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs · verified 2026-09-16
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs · verified 2026-09-16