A Case of Beer in My Checked Baggage?

[danmancs]

Hi all,

I've just been given 6 cases of TsingTao Beer - China's favourite brand - and I am hoping to bring one back to Brisvegas with me. Has anyone ever checked in a case of beer before and what implications does this have??

I am transferring through HKG from KA951 to QF97. If it's marked fragile, i'd hope the baggage handlers would have enough respect for another man's beer to treat it well?!?

Would I need to declare it going through customs? am I going to get hit with a ridiculous duty to bring it in?

Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated!

 

[samh004]

You might get hit with duty as you’re only allowed to bring in 2.125 litres.

I think you should be able to buy that beer here though…

 

[danmancs]

You might get hit with duty as you’re only allowed to bring in 2.125 litres.

I think you should be able to buy that beer here though…

Dan Murphy's has it at 70 bucks a case...!

Is the 2.125 litres not just for wines and spirits?

 

[samh004]

Is the 2.125 litres not just for wines and spirits?

I believe it’s for all alcohol.

 

[Mal]

IMHO don't do it.

It's not expensive (compared to other beers) in Australia.
Way too much chance of them leaking or being smashed.
You'll be hit with duty in OZ.
Do you really want to lug a case of beer around???

 

[danmancs]

IMHO don't do it.

It's not expensive (compared to other beers) in Australia.
Way too much chance of them leaking or being smashed.
You'll be hit with duty in OZ.
Do you really want to lug a case of beer around???

I'm going to have a crack at bringing one in... It was free anyway, and I think I'll only end up paying 15-20 bucks duty, if they bother to charge me at all... I wouldn't pay 70 bucks for it in Australia, just out of principle, it's a $15 case of beer in China.

I'll let you know on how I get on...

 

[Mal]

I'm going to have a crack at bringing one in... It was free anyway, and I think I'll only end up paying 15-20 bucks duty, if they bother to charge me at all... I wouldn't pay 70 bucks for it in Australia, just out of principle, it's a $15 case of beer in China.

Yeah, please let us know. It's something I don't think I would do, but always curious how people go with various things.

 

[Grooba]

I'll also look forward to how you go with this.

Not something I would try but as Mal says it's always interesting to hear how people go bring unusual things into the country.

 

[AdamR]

Beer (like many things) is incredibly cheap in China. It is quite likely there is a way to import it, pay duty, and still be way ahead of Dan Murphy's et al. The question I have is how do you avoid excess baggage charges. I would expect the weight of a carton of beer to be in the region of 15kg for cans, more for bottles.

OP might be OK for the QF leg, but what about the KA leg?

 

[Justinf]

I have done this domestically heaps of times. I love Cascade Draught but it is only available in Tassie. Havne't brought a full carton back to the mainland for quite a while now, but as long as it's packed strudily, it works a treat.

 

[medhead]

Umm have you actually checked the duty rate for beer.
I think the current rates are here:
http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/ACN_2010-05.pdf

But they are a bit hard to decipher as it is all by codes. But at the highest rate, $70/L of alcohol, 9 litres of 3.5% would be $22.

I have done this domestically heaps of times. I love Cascade Draught but it is only available in Tassie. Havne't brought a full carton back to the mainland for quite a while now, but as long as it's packed strudily, it works a treat.

I'm pretty sure I can get cascade draught in South Australia, I'll check this weekend. Might be boags draught

 

[samh004]

OP might be OK for the QF leg, but what about the KA leg?

I think someone with status should find they’re treated nicely in China/Hong Kong.

 

[tuppaware]

I love that beer ! I got a taste for it on a trip to China.
To be honest though its just a standard german style beer no different to anything else I can get across at DM's

 

[Mal]

I'm pretty sure I can get cascade draught in South Australia, I'll check this weekend. Might be boags draught

Boags draught is available in several states in bottle or tap versions. It is being heavily pushed.

I don't think Cascade Draught is available outside of Tasmania.

 

[PineappleSkip]

. But at the highest rate, $70/L of alcohol, 9 litres of 3.5% would be $22.

I doubt they would slug you for that sort of money. Wouldn't really warrant the administrative cost of processing. They seem to have a certain amount of discretion, e.g. if you're only a few hundred dollars over the $900 per traveller value limit.

Cheers skip

 

[medhead]

I doubt they would slug you for that sort of money. Wouldn't really warrant the administrative cost of processing. They seem to have a certain amount of discretion, e.g. if you're only a few hundred dollars over the $900 per traveller value limit.

Cheers skip

I don't doubt they would enforce the law. And in my experience they do collect money fir only a few hundred dollars over the limit. Bearing mind that the $900 limit is not relevant to alcohol.

 

[danmancs]

Umm have you actually checked the duty rate for beer.
I think the current rates are here:
http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/ACN_2010-05.pdf

But they are a bit hard to decipher as it is all by codes. But at the highest rate, $70/L of alcohol, 9 litres of 3.5% would be $22.

This is the thing that annoys me, I will do the right thing, declare it and pay the duty, but surely the customs service has an obligation to make duty rates, for things like alcohol, clear and easy to understand for travellers. Beer seems to be referenced on page 20... How are we supposed to make head or tail of all the various codes!!!

 

[danmancs]

I have done this domestically heaps of times. I love Cascade Draught but it is only available in Tassie. Havne't brought a full carton back to the mainland for quite a while now, but as long as it's packed strudily, it works a treat.

What do you call "packed Sturdily"? I was just going to put the box of 24 - which has dividers in it - into the checked luggage... If it gets dropped, it gets dropped, and there is probably not much that will help that I guess...?

 

[samh004]

What do you call "packed Sturdily"? I was just going to put the box of 24 - which has dividers in it - into the checked luggage... If it gets dropped, it gets dropped, and there is probably not much that will help that I guess...?

It’s free after all… but I think suggestions would be polystyrene instead of cardboard dividers and for a snug fit.

 

[medhead]

This is the thing that annoys me, I will do the right thing, declare it and pay the duty, but surely the customs service has an obligation to make duty rates, for things like alcohol, clear and easy to understand for travellers. Beer seems to be referenced on page 20... How are we supposed to make head or tail of all the various codes!!!

I know. That's why I just went for the most expensive number. I couldn't be bother wading through the legislation to find the codes.
It might be worthwhile emailing them or calling to get an exact answer. I have used the email service once and it is ok.

Of course if the duty is too high you could just let them confiscate it.