Can alcohol be sent by post from abroad?

[Solarjunkie]

A friend wants to send me a bottle of vodka from Russia but has asked me to check that it is legal to do so. It's fairly standard stuff, just one bottle costing about �20.

[Naomicorlett]

We get wine from Germany every Easter. No problem. but a cusrom and excise declaration has to be attatched.

[Naomicorlett]

cusrom??? sorry Custom

[Buenchico]

Germany is within the EU. Russia is not, so different rules apply.

When the Vodka is received in the UK, HMRC will calculate the excise duty. On a 1 litre bottle of vodka, with 40% ABV, that's �8.54. Assuming that HMRC are satisfied that the bottle of vodka meets the rules for 'gifts' (and that the package carries the correct customs declaration) , the recipient will find that the postman will demand �16.54 (�8.54 excise duty + �8 customs inspection fee) before he'll hand over the vodka.

Chris