Booze Cruise

[david and julie]

We were thinking about trying a shopping trip over to France.

We aren't expecting to save fortunes, more an experience and a maybe couple of days out really. I have an estate car so can carry quite a bit.

Have any of you tried it and have any tips on how it went? I've been told it's very cheap on the ferry overnight, any experiences of the ferries, or booking suggestions. Also I believe the supermarkets are mainly British owned, do they except the Pound or the Euro? Are there any savings to be made?

Any suggestions really.

 

[masona]

I have an estate car so can carry quite a bit.

A couple of week ago on ITV news, this poor eldery chap has his 3 week old Ford Focus taken away from him and will not be getting it back as it will go into auction, he has some drink in the boot of the car and I don't really know what the full story was but you do hear about these thing. I thought I mention it as you probably know about these thing. I thought they pick on transit van with trailer and not private car.

 

[AdamW]

You are legally entitled to bring back as much booze and fags as you want, provided it is for your own consumption. The customs officers work to certain guidelines, I think it is something like 3000 cigarettes per adult. The idea being, if you come back with 50,000 cigarettes then it is OBVIOUSLY not for your own consumption. The same with booze: if you come back with 200 bottles of wine then it is easy to show it is just for those in the car (4 bottles a week, between 2 or 4 people, easy). But if you come back with a van full of the stuff then it is obviously not just for you.

So, I would think you should be pretty safe with your estate car, I haven't heard about the old man in the Focus but it is probably an isolated incident. My parents go once or twice a year and bring back a good 300 bottles of wine with them.

You can buy half-decent table wine dirt cheap in France, but it won't last more than a month or two when stored. So, don't buy 300 bottles at £1.50 each unless you want something to top your battery up with in a couple of months! The French wines are where you will see most savings, but the new world wines (Kumala, Hardy's, Lindemanns etc.) are cheaper too.

My experience is that things which aren't specifically French are often no cheaper and sometimes more expensive than over here. So if you plan on buying a load of scotch too, or even Martini, check the price in your local supermarket before you go as you could be surprised.

I'm planning a trip for the end of November, I found ferry and tunnel tickets down to about £54 per car + 4 people online, how much are you paying?

 

[Thermo]

As stated it must be for your own consumption. you cannot even bring back stuff as presents, or buy stuff for other people while out there.

 

[david and julie]

I've not yet looked into any ferry prices as it is only an idea at the moment.

Julie's favourite tipple is Pernod which is quite dear in the UK at about £14 for a 70cl bottle. So hopefully the Pernod/Ricard/Pastis type drinks may be cheaper and make it worthwhile. If I have a drink at home I like Bud so I can't see that being much cheaper.

I will have to do some googling and see if I can find some Calais supermarkets to get an idea.

Neither of us smoke so I will have to give any fags or baccy to my mates

 

[AdamW]

you cannot even bring back stuff as presents,

I can imagine the conversation:

Customs officer: Could you explain to me why you have brought back a case of Pernot, sir?

Man: Because I like it.

CO: Really, would you mind drinking some then to proove your innocence?

Man: (gingerly takes a sip of Pernot and whinces)

CO: AHA! Just as I expected! You've bought this AS A PRESENT! HAVEN'T YOU! SWEINHUND!

 

[Thermo]

didnt say you couldnt do it, just dont tell them, or they will whip the lot away from you!

 

[ZenStalinist]

How come we have a German Frenchman?

Plus, I noticed David is planning to break the law by giving people fags. *Looks for HM customs in yellow pages*

 

[david and julie]

I do understand anything you bring over is for your own use, however I think C & E would have a struggle prosecuting you if you gave somebody, something, as a Christmas present. I suppose it depends how you define own use. Is a non smoker giving fags away for Christmas not own use? I thought they were more concerned with people re-selling for profit or WHY.

I notice the Gov has just got another warning about the illegal activities of C & E. They should make up their minds whether we have an open market or not. Instead of trying to have everything their own way.

It wasn't actually my intention to bring anything back for profit. However, being a non smoker, I don't have a problem with bringing back fags or baccy for friends, if it helped with diesel and ferry costs.

That is really not what I have in mind though, to be honest Julie's got loads of holidays left and we thought it would make a change.

 

[masona]

As stated it must be for your own consumption.

I do understand this but it must be a very grey area, how much do you buy? is it 1 week, 1 month, 6 month, 1 year supply ?
You would've thought the best way is to limit the supply per customer as they do in duty free allowance.

 

[kendor]

On the news this week they were mentioning that the people who have had their vehicles confiscated could have a case for compensation as the european court has suggested that the UK Cand E personnel may have overstepped the mark and been too enthusiatic, so it may be worth "watching this space" as they say.

 

[AdamW]

How come we have a German Frenchman?

And why would we have a Frenchman working in UK C&E? I just thought it would be amusing to imagine a C&E officer who asked questions in the style of a Gestapo officer, hence the forcing of drinking Pernot, the tricks, and the "Sweinhund"

When my parents have spent periods of a week or so, my dad has actually taken along British beef, not so much just to annoy the French, more because it is convenient (not to mention superior). That is where you would incurr the wrath of the les Coutoms et Excisé (aka Douane).

Hang on, look at Customs limits for entering France. Now, I really doubt that I could drink a 110 litre barrel of beer before it went off, but if I lived in France and decided to hop across the channel for some real beer for a party, this could get problematic.

AFAIK "own consumption" includes getting a load of booze and then letting your guests drink it at a party.

 

[2scoops0406]

Own consumption, well there are a few exception, you are allowed to bring booze in if it is say for a wedding. I would have thought though technically under EU law, aren't you allowed to purchase goods and services without let or hinderance from any member state, even for commerical purposes. Now obviously I understand why the UK Gov. doesn't allow this, although of course the UK law is a lesser power than EU law, but isn't the UK Govt in contravention of EU law here ?

D&J For practical purposes, I would follow the previous advice, and not try to argue the toss with HM customs and excise.

BTW, the confiscation of vehicles has been ruled as excessive and punative punishment by the EU and is not legal, another rule flouted by the UK ! Again, don't try to argue this point!

 

[AdamW]

although of course the UK law is a lesser power than EU law,

Actually, not officially until the Constitution is ratified. The Constitution states that EU law takes precedent over national law. Even after Bliar signs it the Constitution does not come into effect for us until ratified, which is to take the form of a referendum, if you can believe that.

However, we do of course have the option of taking matters up with the European Court of Human Rights if we don't get our own way in the UK legal system

Hmmmm, perhaps "Constrictution" would be a clever pun for the tabloids to start using...

 

[AdamW]

Just read the BBC News website's report on the Constitution. It mentions that many MEPs aren't happy with the prospect of Rocco Buttiglione becoming the new EU Commissioner due to his very public views on homosexuality and the role of women in society.

However, looking at his name I had to smirk, perhaps the following demonstrates my level of maturity:

Buttiglione...

Butt igli one...

Butt ugly one.

Also, I spotted the irony that a homophobic man has the word "butt" in his name