Alcohol in gift consignments

If you receive alcohol as a gift from within the EU, the Tax Administration provides information and advice regarding the excise duty on alcohol.

If you receive alcohol from outside the EU, or ffrom the customs territory of the EU but outside its fiscal territory, you must declare the consignment.

An alcoholic beverage is a beverage intended to be consumed and containing more than 1.2 per cent by volume of ethyl alcohol. The value added tax rate on alcohol is 24 per cent. Excise duty on alcohol and alcoholic beverages is imposed based on the tax rate table for alcoholic beverages. Additionally, 0.51 euros per litre is imposed in beverage container tax.

Restrictions

Persons under the age of 18 are not allowed to bring in alcoholic beverages, and persons under the age of 20 are only allowed to bring in light alcoholic beverages.

Spirits cannot be brought in without a permit. A private person is not allowed to receive from abroad gift consignments containing spirits, i.e. alcoholic substances containing more than 80 per cent by volume of ethyl alcohol, irrespective of use, packaging or markings.

Alcoholic beverages from outside the EU

Alcoholic beverages contained in gift parcels are always subject to alcoholic beverage tax and value added tax, regardless of the value or quantity of the products.

You are allowed to receive tax exempt alcohol and alcoholic beverages as a gift though, from outside the EU customs and fiscal territory, provided that neither the value limit of 45 euros nor the following quantities are exceeded:

  • 1 litre of distilled beverages and spirits with an alcohol content of more than 22 per cent by volume OR
  • 1 litre of distilled beverages and spirits, and aperitifs with a wine or alcoholic base, taffia, sake or similar beverages with an alcohol content not exceeding 22 per cent by volume, sparkling wines, fortified wines or a proportional assortment of these different products AND
  • 2 litres of still wines, i.e. red, white and rosé wines.

Any questions?

Contact Customs Information Mon–Fri 8 am–4.15 pm

Please have a look at the frequently asked questions.

If you have a question about the arrival of parcels, its contents or the handling fee, please contact Posti.

Customs Information Service


Keywords Alcohol