Food, drink and cigarettes over to france?

Question

Im going to France next week via ferry and was wondering if there is a limit to how much/ what type of food you can take over and bring back? We're travelling by coach. Also whats the limit for cigarettes as a lot of people have asked me to bring them some back and the same for alcohol.

WISE OWL · Accepted Answer

If you are  over 18, there is no limit  to the amount of alcohol and cigarettes that you can bring back to the UK provided they are for your own use, and they amount  to what the customs would consider "a reasonable quantity". However, it is illegal to sell them to third parties when you come back.

If you are under 18 it is totally forbidden and, if you are searched and they are found, the lot will be confiscated. For food, other than raw meat  you can bring anything you want,  whatever your age, but in any case the fact that you are travelling by coach limits the amount that you can bring back comfortably. 

In a coach your bringing  goods back is unlikely to be as large as you would in a private car or a van, but  even passengers in coaches are scrutinised and randomly searched nowadays to look for illegal goods such as drugs and weapons or illegal immigrants travelling on forged passports, and you may be the one singled out and questioned about what you are bringing in and for what purpose. If you are a teacher escorting a school group, make sure that your students under 18 do not break the rules bringing back alcohol and cigarettes as it can throw up all sorts of difficulties when coming back. A whole year group  in four coaches on a day trip to Saint Omer  was held back for several hours on their return because of this. 

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&id=HMCE_PROD_010221&propertyType=document

Enjoy your trip, wherever you go. France at this time is really lovely!

rugratshd · Answer

You are particularly likely to be asked questions if you have more than:

3200 cigarettes, 200 cigars, 400 cigarillos, 3kg tobacco, 110 litres of beer, 90 litres of wine, 10 litres of spirits, 20 litres of fortified wine (such as port or sherry).

You can also bring back food, anything you wish, but obviously space is limited.

Sabine · Answer

When you get to customs there will be signs up telling you what you can take back, watch out for them. If you are going on a booze cruise, they will advise you.

pepperachu · Answer

i don't think you can take food
but i think you have to pay a fee for a certain amount of booze 
and cigarettes

teejaybigdaddy · Answer

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Food, drink and cigarettes over to france?

5 Answers