Buying Booze Stateside

[Starfishy]

Me and a bunch of buddies are heading to the states soon for a golf weekend. I was hoping to bring back a couple bottles of dark rum. Unfortunately, everyone else has the same idea. One of the guys is 19 and is not allowed to purchase booze himself, but can I get him to bring me back a bottle? Is it allowed for a minor (in Arizona, but not here) to bring it over the border?

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by I Declare

Minimum ages for the importation of alcoholic beverages, as prescribed by provincial or territorial authorities, are 18 years for the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec and 19 years for the remaining provinces and territories.

Hope that helps. The entire document can be found here: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publicati...eng.html#s2x13

[evman150]

I was worried about this a few years ago. I was 21, my friends were 19 and 20. We brought back 72 beers that I had bought. We got pulled over at customs (never a pleasant experience) and I was worried that I was going to get busted for bringing in too much. We were waiting in the office while our car got torn apart and I asked the guy if it was okay, and he said "are they 19?"..."then we don't care".

So the answer is "yes", as long as they are of legal age in the jurisdiction you are coming back into, they have "bring back booze" rights.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by evman150

So the answer is "yes", as long as they are of legal age in the jurisdiction you are coming back into, they have "bring back booze" rights.

Not necessarily. If they're 18 coming into an border of a province that the legal age is 18, but are a resident of a province that's has a 19 legal age, I would assume that they won't be able to bring it in.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Not necessarily. If they're 18 coming into an border of a province that the legal age is 18, but are a resident of a province that's has a 19 legal age, I would assume that they won't be able to bring it in.

Why?

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Why?

That's how PST works. Goes by province of residency, not province you're entering. Thus my assumption for booze.

And I have my doubts they would let an 18 year old claim that he's importing liquor into a province that it's illegal for him to posess it in. Maybe not, but it seems odd.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

That's how PST works. Goes by province of residency, not province you're entering. Thus my assumption for booze.

Nope. You get charged PST based upon the province you're entering the country.

And I have my doubts they would let an 18 year old claim that he's importing liquor into a province that it's illegal for him to posess it in. Maybe not, but it seems odd.

Would they sell it to him in that province? Yes. He is allowed to have it in that province.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Nope. You get charged PST based upon the province you're entering the country.

I've come through the Sask border and not paid PST. I've also had people from Sask come through the Alberta border with me and get charged PST.