Duty free leaving Heathrow to come back 2 days later

[RichS]

Evening all,

I'm off outside the EU for a few days from tomorrow. I thought I'd replenish my whisky stocks while I'm at it.

Is there a limit to how much I can buy in duty free, either in terms of what I can buy tomorrow or, more importantly, how much of that I'll be allowed to keep coming back in? I want to buy only a couple of bottles, not half the shop. But am I limited to a litre? I can obviously keep all my receipts, proof of duty free, etc.

Thanks in advance!

[calibrax]

Yes you can usually buy more, but you can only bring in one litre if it's over 22% alcohol content.

[Farm boy]

I do quite a lot of trips of UK - India - Uk.
Buy a bottle (JD usually) at Heathrow,
Have at least a snifter while your away - pack in luggage
Buya Litre in Delhi duty free.

Pretty sure thats 2L all squeaky clean legal.

[calibrax]

Farm boy said:

I do quite a lot of trips of UK - India - Uk.
Buy a bottle (JD usually) at Heathrow,
Have at least a snifter while your away - pack in luggage
Buya Litre in Delhi duty free.

Pretty sure thats 2L all squeaky clean legal.

Nope, not legal. With any travel outside the EU, it ALL counts as part of your allowance when you return to the UK, regardless of where it was purchased, or whether you've had a 'snifter' or not. Same applies to cigarettes.

[RichS]

So the rule is, you can only bring in a litre from outside the EU, irrespective of where it originated from or whether or not you paid duty. Ok- very clear. Seems a bit harsh but then why am I surprised.

[calibrax]

RichS said:

So the rule is, you can only bring in a litre from outside the EU, irrespective of where it originated from or whether or not you paid duty. Ok- very clear. Seems a bit harsh but then why am I surprised.

Yeah... and all because politicians don't get their kickbacks from countries outside the EU.

Before I was aware of the rules, I went over to Houston and back, and on the way back I bought 400 cigarettes for my mum, not realising that the limit was 200. When I landed at Heathrow (early morning, about 2am), I was waiting at the baggage carousel for my luggage and I noticed a sign which said about the 200 limit. Damn, I thought. So after getting my bags, I decided to be honest and went through the red "Something To Declare" channel. Told the customs officer what I had and why, she asked a couple of questions about what else I had in my bags (nothing relevant) and she let me take all 400 cigarettes through at no charge. Honesty was indeed the best policy

[Kudos]

You're just as cheap buying in supermarkets at home