Neil Sinhababu's philosophy and politics blog, 2004-2015 ‡ neiladri, at gmail dot com
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Duty Free
Just picked up a liter (I guess around here it's a litre) of Bombay Sapphire for $18.58 at the Duty Free store here in Hong Kong. Building my liquor cabinet through international travel will be part of the game plan for the next couple years.
How much can you bring in to Singapore w/o having to pay an import tax? (In the U.S. it's 1 lt., I believe, though I must admit to having brought in a bit more a few times. I suspect customs in the U.S. is less strict.) It's important to recall that buying something in the duty free shop just means the _local_ duty isn't imposed on it, not that there's no potential duty on the place you're taking it to, so if Singapore has an import duty on alcohol over a certain volume you're still required to pay it no matter where you bought the stuff, or so I've understood.
Matt, Singapore allows you to bring in 1 liter of spirits, 1 liter of wine, and 3 cans of beer. I didn't see any great beer/wine deals, and I was encumbered anyway by my other stuff, so I didn't get any of those. As it turned out, customs here wasn't quite as strict as one might expect.
I'd actually call it the gin for ouzo drinkers, Brock -- the licorice flavor is really what brings me in.
Other people might bring it to you, too. Though that may also fall under "international travel."
ReplyDeleteHow much can you bring in to Singapore w/o having to pay an import tax? (In the U.S. it's 1 lt., I believe, though I must admit to having brought in a bit more a few times. I suspect customs in the U.S. is less strict.) It's important to recall that buying something in the duty free shop just means the _local_ duty isn't imposed on it, not that there's no potential duty on the place you're taking it to, so if Singapore has an import duty on alcohol over a certain volume you're still required to pay it no matter where you bought the stuff, or so I've understood.
ReplyDeleteBombay Sapphire, the gin for vodka drinkers.
ReplyDeleteI hope so, Robin!
ReplyDeleteMatt, Singapore allows you to bring in 1 liter of spirits, 1 liter of wine, and 3 cans of beer. I didn't see any great beer/wine deals, and I was encumbered anyway by my other stuff, so I didn't get any of those. As it turned out, customs here wasn't quite as strict as one might expect.
I'd actually call it the gin for ouzo drinkers, Brock -- the licorice flavor is really what brings me in.
And remember, Neil- alcohol that you're carrying within your person doesn't count against the limits!
ReplyDelete