What You Need to Know About Traveling with Alcohol This Summer: TSA Rules and Packing Tips

Heading off on a summer adventure with a bottle of wine or local spirits in your bag? Whether you’re bringing a taste of home to your destination or picking up duty-free finds on the way back, knowing the TSA rules on alcohol can make your travels a lot smoother—and prevent your favorite bottle from being confiscated at the security checkpoint.

Here’s your go-to guide for flying with alcohol this summer, straight from TSA regulations and geared toward jetsetters who like to sip and soar.

✈️ TSA Alcohol Rules at a Glance

Let’s break it down by proof and packaging:

✅ Allowed in Carry-On:

• Alcohol in bottles 3.4 ounces (100 mL) or less, as long as it fits inside your quart-sized clear liquids bag.

• Duty-free alcohol purchased after clearing security can be carried onto the plane (check your airline’s policy too).

• Alcohol content must be below 70% ABV (140 proof).

🚫 Not Allowed in Carry-On:

• Anything over 3.4 ounces that wasn’t purchased post-security.

• Alcohol over 70% ABV—this includes ultra-high-proof spirits like Everclear and Bacardi 151. TSA does not permit these in carry-on or checked luggage.

✅ Allowed in Checked Bags:

• Under 24% ABV (beer, wine, sake): Unlimited quantity permitted.

• Between 24% and 70% ABV (most liquors): Up to 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per passenger, and it must be in unopened retail packaging.

🚫 Not Allowed in Checked Bags:

• Anything over 70% ABV is prohibited from being transported entirely.

🧳 How to Pack Alcohol Safely in Your Luggage

Bringing alcohol in your checked bag? Don’t just toss it in next to your shoes and hope for the best. Here’s how to protect your bottles and your wardrobe:

1. Keep It Sealed: TSA requires alcohol in your checked luggage to be unopened and in retail packaging.

   
   

2. Use Protective Materials: Wrap bottles in bubble wrap or secure them inside padded bottle sleeves. You can also tuck them between layers of clothing for extra cushioning.

   
   

3. Place in the Center of Your Bag: Avoid bottle breakage by placing alcohol in the middle of your suitcase, surrounded by soft items.

   
   

4. Double-Bag for Safety: For extra precaution, place the bottle in a zip-top plastic bag or a leak-proof wine travel bag. No one wants a Cabernet-stained vacation wardrobe.

   
   

5. Check Your Quantities: Make sure you’re not exceeding the 5-liter limit for spirits between 24%-70% ABV.

🍷 Can You Drink Your Own Alcohol In-Flight?

Tempting as it may be to crack open a bottle mid-flight, FAA regulations prohibit passengers from drinking their own alcohol onboard—even if it was purchased duty-free. Only flight attendants are permitted to serve alcohol during a flight. So save that toast for when you land!

🌍 Jetset Journal Travel Tip:

If you’re flying internationally, double-check alcohol import limits for your destination country. TSA rules apply to U.S. airports, but each country has its own rules for what you can bring in.

🧳 Final Sip: Your Summer Alcohol Travel Checklist

• ✔ 3.4 oz or less in carry-on (in liquids bag)

• ✔ Up to 5 liters of spirits in checked luggage (under 70% ABV)

• ✔ Beer and wine? Bring as much as you like in checked bags

• ✔ No high-proof alcohol (over 70% ABV) allowed—anywhere

• ✔ Don’t drink your own booze onboard!

Traveling with alcohol doesn’t have to be complicated, as long as you play by the rules. So pack that bottle of rosé, snag that rum from the Caribbean, or gift that small-batch bourbon—and enjoy your travels responsibly. ✈️🍸