Heading North - Customs and Liquor/Wine

[aginglawyer]

For those planning to go to Poets' Cove: The following is an update from this week from Waggoner's Newsletter:

MAY 20, 2014
The following are our updates from being out cruising or talking to marina managers and harbormasters over the last month.

Important Notice for Canadian Customs Clearance


While taking our 9-boat flotilla to Alaska we noticed some changes at Canadian Customs in Bedwell Harbour. We suspect other locations are seeing similar levels of heightened inspection and enforcement.

We were told there are now more agents at the Canadian border and they are looking for marijuana coming into the country as a result of the legalization of marijuana in Washington State. Two 20-something men are on one boat in the flotilla and they were questioned more than usual. Many of the questions involved marijuana and marijuana use.

Several of our boats were asked tough questions about the quantity of liquor aboard. One boat had a case of wine given to them as a gift. When asked the value of the wine, they said about $15 per bottle and the agent said, “Let’s call it $10.” He then begrudgingly determined that they owed about $9 per bottle, or almost $300.

One other boat at the dock said they had 5-6 bottles. Three officers decided to inspect the entire boat. They found a mixed case of very good wine and champagne and confiscated the case. The agents claim they are required to pour all the liquor out. The agents confiscated the wine at their discretion as they felt they were lied to. One agent also mentioned that they sometimes measure partial bottles - which we have been advised can be declared as ship’s stores. When I declared my liquor the agent on the phone wanted to know about any partial bottles and I even declared a partially opened box of wine (a good brand I might add). I was not inspected.

The lesson? Be honest and answer questions directly, especially since enforcement seems to have been stepped up.

From Me:
Generally Canada Customs agents are friendly and agreeable but they do take on summer help, often law students, who can get a bit picky.

Allan

 

[Stella Maris]

Interesting. In the past, I have been known to take more than the legal amount of wine into Canada. However, we discovered some very good wines at very reasonable prices that are produced and sold only in Canada.

The last few trips, we have chosen to only take in the legal amount of spirits in but, we have brought more than the legal amount of wine out.... The US is not quite as concerned with you bringing wine back in as long as it is not a large amount. If they feel you are going to resell it, they will charge you the duty. Last time I inquired about the duty, I was told it was $.85 per bottle. No need to try to lie at that price!

 

[andygmontara]

I am just starting to plan my trip up in September. Living in California, I always have wine on my boat. What are the limits for bringing wine into Canada?. Thank You, Andrew Geiser "Keep on Tuggin".

 

[Don and Brenda]

Cleared customs in Sidney yesterday, same questions as usual. On the phone for just a few minutes.

 

[knotflying]

I crossed into Canada last summer here on the east coast and they took an hour and a half going through the boat. What a mess they left. I told them I had four bottles of wine and had forgotten I had eight. They were very stern with me and lambasted me for not giving an accurate count. They were also concerned that I was going to leave the boat in Canada and I had to stop in customs before I left Canada to show them I still had the boat.

 

[RProffer]

According to Canada Customs, http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5082-eng.html#s2x1
the alcohol limits are listed below, but can be modified by the province or territory you are entering. Have fun trying to figure this one out.

"Alcoholic beverages

Alcoholic beverages are products that exceed 0.5% alcohol by volume. If you meet the minimum age requirements of the province or territory where you enter Canada, you can include limited quantities of alcoholic beverages in your personal entitlement. Minimum ages for the importation of alcoholic beverages, as prescribed by provincial or territorial authorities, are as follows: 18 years for Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec; and 19 years for the remaining provinces and territories.

You are allowed to import only one of the following amounts of alcoholic beverages free of duty and taxes:

1.5 litres (53 imperial ounces) of wine; or
a total of 1.14 litres (40 ounces) of alcoholic beverages; or
up to 8.5 litres of beer or ale.

Note:
The CBSA classifies "cooler" products according to the alcoholic beverage they contain. For example, beer coolers are considered to be beer and wine coolers are considered to be wine. Beverages not exceeding 0.5% alcohol by volume are not considered to be alcoholic beverages.

The quantities of alcohol you can bring in must be within the limit set by the province or territory where you enter Canada. If the value of the goods is more than the free allowance, you will have to pay duty and taxes, as well as provincial/territorial assessment on the excess amount. In Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, you cannot bring more than the free allowance. For more information, check with the appropriate provincial or territorial liquor control authority before your arrival to Canada."