Transporting alcohol across the border – how much alcohol can you bring in duty-free?

Transporting alcohol across EU borders, including from the United Kingdom to Poland, is governed by specific limits and customs rules that depend on the quantity of goods being carried, the type of alcohol, and the purpose of the trip. We'll answer the question: how much alcohol can be brought in without having to pay duty, and whether you have to pay duty on transporting alcohol in various situations.

How much alcohol can be transported duty-free?

Travellers arriving in Poland from countries outside the European Union (including the United Kingdom) can bring in alcohol without having to pay duty, provided they do not exceed the following limits:

1. Spirits (with an alcohol content above 22%) – a maximum of 1 litre, OR alcoholic drinks with a lower alcohol content, up to 22% (e.g. sparkling wine, liqueurs) – a maximum of 2 litres (these limits are mutually exclusive alternatives, not additive).
2. Still wine – a maximum of 4 litres, independent of the limit above.
3. Beer – a maximum of 16 litres, independent of the limits above​ (podatki.gov.pl).

If the alcohol being transported falls within these limits, the traveller does not have to pay any additional customs charges, including duty and taxes.

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Do I have to pay duty on transporting alcohol?

The answer to this question depends on the quantity of alcohol you're transporting. If the amount of alcohol exceeds the limits shown above, you will have to pay:

1. Duty – depending on the value of the goods and the customs classification of the alcohol.
2. VAT – mandatory, depending on the value of the goods.
3. Excise duty – also payable, especially for high-strength alcohol​​.

It's worth adding that transporting alcohol for commercial purposes, i.e. in larger quantities than those shown above, may involve an obligation to declare the goods for customs clearance, as well as meeting additional requirements related to trading in alcohol.

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Transporting alcohol and transfer of residence property

If you're moving from the United Kingdom to Poland and transporting alcohol as part of your transfer of residence property, unfortunately alcoholic products are excluded from the usual customs exemptions. This means that transporting alcohol, even as part of your household belongings, will be subject to duty and other customs charges, unless the alcohol being transported falls within the duty-free limits​​.

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Brexit and customs rules

Since 1 January 2021, following Brexit, the United Kingdom has become a country outside the European Union, meaning the customs rules governing the transport of alcohol have changed. Travellers who previously had free access to Poland from the United Kingdom now have to follow the rules on importing goods from third countries. That's why it's important to know how much alcohol can be transported without having to pay duty, and what the alcohol transport limits are after Brexit​​.

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Summary

• How much alcohol can be transported duty-free? Under the rules, travellers can bring into Poland, free of charge: 1 litre of spirits OR 2 litres of lower-strength alcohol (mutually exclusive limits), plus, independently, 4 litres of still wine and 16 litres of beer.
• Do I have to pay duty on transporting alcohol? If you exceed these limits, you will have to pay duty, VAT and excise duty on the excess.

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Need help transporting alcohol?

If you're planning to transport alcohol across the border and want to avoid problems with customs formalities, contact our experts at PLUTOS TEAM AGENT LTD. We offer comprehensive support with customs clearance of transfer of residence property and other goods.

Need help with customs clearance of alcohol?

We help travellers and businesses settle duty, VAT and excise duty when transporting alcohol across the UK–EU border, and prepare the required customs declarations.

Call: +44 333 335 5072 or go to our contact form. Individual quote after documents are submitted.

Customs agency registered with CDS, UK EORI number.