Alcohol

🥃 Spirits / Liquor

Rules differ by region: Spirits over 70% ABV (e.g. grain alcohol, overproof rum) cannot be transported by air in any region. For standard spirits (24–70% ABV), the US and Canada allow up to 5 litres in checked baggage.

💼 Cabin bag

Depends

Mini bottles (≤100ml, 24–70% ABV) in clear liquids bag permitted. Over 70% ABV: prohibited entirely.

✈️ Hold (checked)

Depends

Up to 5 litres per person for spirits 24–70% ABV in retail packaging. Over 70% ABV: prohibited.

💡 Tip: Standard spirits (40% ABV) are treated like any other liquid — 100ml in carry-on, or larger bottles in checked baggage up to airline limits. Overproof spirits over 70% ABV are banned everywhere.

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Airline-specific rules

🇮🇪RyanairSpirits above 24% ABV must be in checked baggage; max 5L per passenger in sealed, retail packaging.

🇬🇧British AirwaysSpirits between 24–70% ABV in checked bags, max 5L; above 70% ABV is prohibited entirely.

🇦🇪EmiratesAlcohol is permitted in checked baggage on most routes; alcohol is not sold or served on flights to/from certain destinations.

🇺🇸American AirlinesDuty-free spirits in sealed bags allowed in cabin on international routes; consumption of own alcohol onboard is prohibited.

Common questions

A standard 750ml spirits bottle well exceeds the 100ml liquid carry-on limit and will be confiscated at the checkpoint. Mini bottles of 100ml or less in the 24–70% ABV range are permitted in your clear liquids bag, or you can buy spirits airside in a sealed duty-free bag after clearing security. Spirits over 70% ABV are prohibited in both carry-on and checked baggage under aviation rules.

Yes. Spirits over 70% ABV are prohibited in both carry-on and checked baggage under aviation regulations because they are classified as a flammable hazard above that concentration. Standard commercial spirits at 40% ABV are fine in checked baggage, and spirits between 24–70% ABV are permitted in checked bags subject to airline quantity limits. Anything labeled as overproof above 70% cannot travel in either bag.

Airlines rely largely on passenger honesty and customs-style spot checks rather than testing every bottle for alcohol content. However, if a bottle leaks or is flagged during baggage screening, staff may examine the label. Bottles in their original sealed retail packaging with clearly printed ABV information are straightforward to verify, so keeping spirits in original packaging is strongly recommended.

Buy spirits at an airside duty-free shop after you clear security, and keep them in the sealed official retail bag with your receipt. This allows you to bring larger bottles on board that would otherwise exceed the 100ml carry-on limit. For connecting flights, verify that your transit airport accepts sealed duty-free liquor bags through its own security checkpoint, as some airports require re-screening.