Travel question???

[Professor Frink]

So, one of the main reasons I started brewing, to give tasty homebrews to family and friends back East, has proven much more difficult than I thought. After phone calls to various shipping outlets, I realized you can't ship alcoholic beverages, who'da thunk it??? Anyway, I just started a pumpkin beer that I'd really like to give a few to my dad and brother for Thanksgiving. I was just wondering if anyone knows if you can fly (domestic flight) with beer??? Does altitude pressure changes cause a risk of bottle explosions??? How should I pack them??? Any new security provisions since 9/11 making it impossible???


Anyone with any experience taking their brew on the road, any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

The professor, wa-HAY!!!

[Beerconnoisseur]

Typically, it is illegal to ship/transport alcohol across state lines. It's called bootlegging, and at one time was done to avoid paying higher tax rates on alcohol by shipping in alcohol from lower tax rated areas. Granted, you may ask: "But that doesn't make any sense! I don't pay any tax on the alcohol I use yeast to make!" But the laws still treat alcohol the same. So, until you organize with your fellow homebrewers, and lobby your politicians to change, plan on more of the same.

I would not try to fly your beer, under any circumstances. There just aren't any good, plausible excuses that you can use, relative to the hassle you'll have when they find out you're transporting beer. You can try driving it yourself, assuming you store it in the trunk, and don't give the police any reason to search your car, IF you get pulled over. But again, this is most definitely illegal, so don't say you weren't warned....

As shipping goes, you can try marking them as "live yeast cultures," or the like, which might actually work. But normally, your safest bet is to tell your friends & family you will save them a bottle, next time they visit. Fewer headaches, and not just from the hangover! :D

[Fast_Eddy]

Check the specific laws for the state.

Many states allow an individual to import into the state a certain amount of alcoholic beverages if it's intended for personal consumption. Usually the limit is around 24 12oz beers a month. In many states - like Beerconnoisseur says - it's illegal.

Go to the ABC site for the state you're interested in and be prepared to sift through a lot of regulations.

[kevin]

What about the swap site on this board? Isn't that about exchanging brews with other brewers? It has to be transported somehow.

[S.F.B.]

When I went to Denver this past July, I stowed 8 of my brews in my carry on. This was met with some hardy chuckles at the x-ray machine. On the trip home I had 2 bottles of liquor in there. No problems. The thing is, the security folks really don't give a damn that you are transporting alcahol. They are looking for weapons.

As for the altitude thing. As long as you have them in the pressurized compartment they will be fine.

[Beerconnoisseur]

Originally posted by Fast_Eddy
Check the specific laws for the state.

State law would be great-- except, that in this case, interstate regs take precedence. That means FTC, and of course, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Trust me on this one, guys. My Dad's a lawyer, and if there were a legal way to do it, he should know. You just shouldn't bank on the ignorance of the airport security screeners. All it takes is one cop who knows his stuff, and you have problems...

[wortchillergoal]

Originally posted by kevin
What about the swap site on this board? Isn't that about exchanging brews with other brewers? It has to be transported somehow.

Yes it is. Anyone doing it is running the risk of having to deal with the court system. That being said, I would do it. You have to be sure of your packing so as not to give reason for the package to be opened.

As far as flying is concerned, I don't think I would. I fly out of Syr. on a somewhat regular basis, and I get checked moree here than I do at larger airports. Also, if the beer goes into the cargo hold it can blow its contents through the cap. My mother brought some beer home fron Germany before 9/11.

[brewmonkey]

While ATF may govern interstate, once you step foot in that state with the product they have a dog in the fight.

If you are shipping beer to a state that allows shipments, then you can do so through any carrier that allows it. It is a federal crime to do it through the USPS though, after that places like FedEx and UPS only have company policies. Worst they can do to you is if you are shipping to a state that does not allow it, turn you in or in the case of a state that does allow it, cite internal reg's and say look elsewhere.

Check around some of the realbeer pages, they list states that allow you to ship to them.

Flying with beer is also not a crime. I have done this numerous times. Just put it in your checked baggage. I have NEVER had a problem and I have flown out of the country like this since 9/11.

I have shipped beer to many festivals over the years and have never had a problem. Pack the beer well and you will be ok.

If this were a major problem, you would never see events like the GABF occur. All that beer is shipped via carrier to the site. Even when UPS lost my package and I had to explain what was in it, they did not freak out. They calmly explained that it was against corporate policy to ship alcohol.

[quantum24]

"people" ship beer all the time, this site may not have a very active trading section but many other beer sites do. also, how else would "people" get their homebrew to competitions? "people" use the USPS and mark as Books, just as fragile, or something of the like, all without every getting in trouble. i have heard of people getting "caught", but the punishment is usually just not having the package arrive. i guess its up to what you feel comfortable doing.

[vendejp]

why are they "people" instead of people (no quotes).... are you talking about highly evolved robots?

edit - :D

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by Beerconnoisseur
State law would be great-- except, that in this case, interstate regs take precedence. That means FTC, and of course, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Trust me on this one, guys. My Dad's a lawyer, and if there were a legal way to do it, he should know. You just shouldn't bank on the ignorance of the airport security screeners. All it takes is one cop who knows his stuff, and you have problems...

Maybe your personal experiences are different than mine but I think you're going a little overboard with this one. Yes, most states forbid private alcohol shipments. And yes, I know of a few people that have had packages "held". If it involved shipping mass quantities of booze for profit across state lines without a license, then maybe the ATF, local/state police or someone would care. A sixer or even a case for personal consumption hardly raises an eyebrow around here, though.

I've completed many trades for beer all over the country and have used all the big shippers (UPS, FedEx, USPS) without a problem. Pack 'em well (and then some more) and don't divulge you're shipping booze. I've also flown with beer several times since 9/11 and have never been searched - my person or my bag. Some people pack it in their checked luggage though I prefer to keep mine with me in the cabin.

Just my opinion, but share that homebrew you put all that hard work into. Cheers!

[Professor Frink]

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'm just gonna try and send it via USPS ahead of time, and say there are no liquids in there. I just called around and was trying the honest approach. I just don't feel good about trying to fly with it. I'd rather not have it in my carry on, for weight reasons and I can can see the security screeners giving me a hard time about it, maybe even getting flat-out denied. For some reason, I don't think they'de let you take a sixer on the plane in carry-on, who'de buy their $7 Miller Lites if you could. Also, the cargo area pressure thing worries me, I'd hate to arrive only to have all my clothes soaked in precious brew.
I think I'll take my chances and try to get a package through ahead of time. I hadn't realized beer trades were so common, I've only been brewing since January. Seems like the worst you could get for a small shipment (<12 beers) is maybe a warning, if it even gets detected.

[newportstorm]

Honestly, if you're already flying, I've fit a 12 pack comfortably in my carry on with room for a few other necessities as well. And it's free. But if you're still worried about getting turned away at the gate and want to ship, here's some advice:

Shipping can be pricey. Sending a 12 pack of hombrew halfway across the country can be upwards of $20 + the packing material (which you'll want to use plenty of). I always try to use one of those foam inserts for wine/beer bottles - keeps 'em secure and cushioned. I then put each bottle (if possible) in a ziploc bag to prevent leaks in case of breakage. Wrap each bottle in bubble wrap and space out in the box. Fill to the brim with packing peanuts (and then some) so that you can't hear much, if any, movement inside the box when shaken.

Good rule of thumb: if you don't feel secure enough in your packing job to drop your box off your porch without breaking the bottles, forget shipping it. Many shippers won't be gentle with your prized pumpkin brew.

Good luck - hope it makes it OK, bud. Cheers!

[Fast_Eddy]

The web site that describes "How To Ship" for the upcoming Dixie Cup Homebrew competition recommends using UPS instead of USPS. It says that the packages, in general, arrive in better condition. Just an FYI.

[threecb]

I don't think it's that big of a deal either.
I've put beer in my carry on pre and post-9/11
travelling from HI, CA, Chicago. I'm pretty sure that
less than a case is not considered bootlegging. You can
cross into Canada with a case of 12oz. bottles.

If travelling across state lines with any amount were
illegal, I'd be breaking the law every time I went camping!

[YamahaXS]

thats kinda scarey FastEddy! I worked for UPS in college and there is very little TLC that goes on there!.


Personally, I would take it with me on the plane rather than risk broken bottles.

[batkins]

I'd have to say, if you pack it correctly..........there will be no problems. Styrofoam, bubble-wrap and thick cardboard boxes do the trick. If your really concerned......double box. Wrap the beer in the first box, with bubble wrap and styrofoam peanuts. Then place that box inside another box with another layer of peanuts. I have never done this, but I've never had a shipment to or from me have any issues of breakage.

Cheers,
Bill

[Aleman]

In June, my Mom flew from LAX to NY and on to Maine with a carry-on full of homebrews. This was for our family reunion and included a dozen of my most memorable brews.

I also give samples to visiting Suppliers who carry them onto airplanes from Bur to San Jose.

I would hand-carry your brews and explain the circumstances, if even asked.

[Beerconnoisseur]

OK, so I asked my Dad, since there were so many conflicting reports about the legality of transporting alcohol across state lines. To paraphrase him briefly, yes, there are limits for Texas [you are allowed 24 12 oz. bottles of beer, as long as you pay the state alcohol tax, and a $0.50 administrative fee, according to TABC]. But otherwise, it varies by state. The ATF only gets involved if you are avoiding paying taxes by transporting fairly large quantities of liquor between states with different tax rates.

So, what I'd recommend, is check some of the ads on this site for beer-of-the-month clubs. If you notice your state is not a place they will deliver to, then you may need to do some more research to learn why. Otherwise, you should be OK. Hope this helps everyone.

[BufordT]

People have been carrying wine on planes for ages. Try to rig up something like this...

www.iwawine.com/store/showitem.asp?k=WB137-006B&f=0&hd=hd_plug.gif&ft=

[Dave A]

I did bring back 8 or 9 bottles of wine and mead (Seattle to Newark) a month or two ago. Just mixed 'em in with the clothes in a couple of checked bags, spaced so they didn't bump each other.

I didn't think about the lack of pressure in the cargo area until we were over PA, fortunately there were no leaks.

[tiedyeddog]

I drink a beer that is only available in bottles where I live. I prefer it in cans, especially if I am taking it to an event, such as a pig roast, camping etc. I live in VA. I vacation in NC several times a year. I have been bringing 6 or 8 cases (whatever I have room for in vehicle and money left to purchase) back with me. I had no idea this was illegal--it is only for personal use. Should I quit doing this? Thanks.:(

[chazwicke]

I've flown with beer many times both in the US and internationally. Never had a problem. I usually carry it on but I have even shipped boxes in the cargo hold.