Wondering if this would be considered illegal in the US to send a bottle of Absinthe to a friend back in the States from Amsterdam?
Any help would be appreciated.
2006-10-27 02:34:13 · 7 answers · asked by 700 Club 3 in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
Is this a slap in the wrist kinda trouble or would this be considered jail time serious offense?
2006-10-27 02:55:05 · update #1
Heh, I ordered two bottles yesterday, so I just looked into this for myself.
Yes, it is currently illegal to import absinthe into the US. However, customs officials are not overly concerned with absinthe imported for personal consumption, they are concerned with large quantities imported for distribution or commercial sales. Any company that will mail absinthe to the US (virtually all of them) is aware of this, and will package and label your absinthe in the least conspicuous way possible. Many companies offer comprehensive shipping insurance which includes insurance against seizure by customs agents.
If customs does seize your package, the penalty is minimal. You may get a nasty letter or a slap on the hand, but unless you are a repeat offender or importing on a large scale, customs has better ways to dirty their hands than by chasing down the occasional absinthe drinker. It is legal to posess and consume absinthe in the United States, so the concern over its import is minimal.
I ordered Century Absinthe, which is 100mg/kg thujone in strength, about three times the strength of even the strongest commercial absinthes. The product is fairly expensive ($100/bottle plus $50 shipping), but the shipping is totally insured against breakage, loss, and seizure.
2006-10-27 02:56:40 · answer #1 · answered by Dave B. 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It isn't legal to bring Absinthe into the US, in fact it's near the top of the list "don't even think about it" things from US Customs. They will confiscate it immediately. I know, the levels of the chemical of concern are low, and not considered to be a dangerous level under ordinary circumstances. The problem is not with that- it's with some of the other things sometimes used to accentuate the green coloring- like copper sulfate, which is pretty deadly. Yeah, you could try to sneak it back in another bottle. And yeah, you will get into trouble if you get caught. Will you get caught? I don't know. Is it worth it to try? Can't answer that one for you. But you can't bring it back in the original bottle at all, no.
2006-10-27 02:42:22 · answer #2 · answered by The mom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, no, maybe.
It is not illegal only banned. That means it isn't a controlled substance regulated by the DEA but a banned one regulated by the FDA. If found customs may confiscate it, but no one has had anything more happen than lose their bottles.
Now any suggestion you should rebottle it (in mouthwash bottles for example) can be extremely stupid. If found it would seem highly suspicious and falsifying customs information can be a felony.
On a side note, thujone content doesn't matter.
2006-10-27 07:49:37 · answer #3 · answered by Ari 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Amsterdam is a wide spectral range of attractions for recreational and cultural sightseeing. They vary from exciting previous houses, such as the Oude Kerk, to oddities like the Hash
2016-12-16 14:20:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't try and carry across the border in any other type bottle..if they catch you they know that you knew it was illegal, and you will get in trouble, just dhl, or mail it back, shipping and insurance is high, but it isn't a crime either!
I have mine mailed in, and have for years with 0 confiscations!
2006-10-27 05:32:41 · answer #5 · answered by kat k 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bring it in Shampoo or Mouthwash bottles.
2006-10-27 04:28:20 · answer #6 · answered by Ian C 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
put it in mouth wash bottles i broght a fith back from newzealand
2006-10-27 02:36:51 · answer #7 · answered by james w 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋