What happens if I do not declare alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol in Germany?

If you declare the excess yourself, a flat-rate charge is applied to the excess. The normal duty becomes payable on the excess. Under Abgabenordnung, § 375 Absatz 2 Satz 1, if the goods are found without being declared: the goods are confiscated.

Can I post or ship alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol to Germany 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 is outside this allowance.

Where does this rule come from?

Generalzolldirektion (German Customs Administration) states it in Zoll online - Reisefreimengen. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “2 Liter Alkohol und alkoholische Getränke mit einem Alkoholgehalt von höchstens 22 Volumenprozent”

How does Germany compare with other countries on alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol?

Of the 21 countries covered here, 1 prohibit alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol, 12 limit it and 8 let it through. Germany is among the ones that set a limit.

How much Alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol can I bring into Germany?

Allowed

You can bring Alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol into Germany without a special limit.

Extra conditions apply

Cabin baggage —

Checked baggage —

Declaration Not required

Limit 2 liter

What you need to know

2 liter (67.63 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

Last verified 2026-09-19

Zoll online - Reisefreimengen Generalzolldirektion

Questions about Alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol in Germany

How much alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol can I bring into Germany?: Germany allows 2 liters of alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol per traveller without duty. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
Do I have to declare alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol at Germany customs?: No — within the allowance it passes without a declaration.
What happens if I do not declare alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol in Germany?: If you declare the excess yourself, a flat-rate charge is applied to the excess. The normal duty becomes payable on the excess. Under Abgabenordnung, § 375 Absatz 2 Satz 1, if the goods are found without being declared: the goods are confiscated.
Can I post or ship alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol to Germany 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 is outside this allowance.
Is there a minimum age for the alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol allowance in Germany?: Yes — 17 years. A traveller under that age gets no allowance for alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol at all, not a smaller one.
Can I take alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol out of Germany?: Germany publishes no separate rule for taking alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
Does the Germany limit for alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol 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?: Generalzolldirektion (German Customs Administration) states it in Zoll online - Reisefreimengen. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “2 Liter Alkohol und alkoholische Getränke mit einem Alkoholgehalt von höchstens 22 Volumenprozent”
How does Germany compare with other countries on alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol?: Of the 21 countries covered here, 1 prohibit alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol, 12 limit it and 8 let it through. Germany is among the ones that set a limit.

Related items

Accompanied cash Accompanying goods, non-commercial (flat-rate band) Agricultural/forestry/fishery/livestock products (general sub-cap) Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over)

Related countries

Australia Canada China France

Other items in this group

Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) Alcoholic beverages (all types) Alcoholic beverages (combined volume and value cap) Alcoholic beverages (standard 760 ml bottle) Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV Alcoholic beverages above 22% ABV