Shipping Alcohol Internationally with forward2me

We ship alcohol from our UK, Guernsey, Germany, and Japan warehouses. However, alcohol is a restricted item, which means specific couriers, packaging standards, and destination rules apply. Not all couriers from each location offer this service, and not all destinations accept alcohol imports.

This page explains exactly what's possible from each origin, what we need from you to process the shipment, and how to avoid the most common reasons a shipment gets refused or returned.

International shipping regulations – both air (IATA) and sea (IMDG) – classify alcohol by its ABV (alcohol by volume) percentage. The category your product falls into determines how it must be packaged, declared, and handled.

Select your shipping origin below to see which couriers are available, what's accepted, and any location-specific restrictions.

Even if your origin location and courier allow alcohol shipments, your destination country has final say. Some countries prohibit alcohol imports entirely; others impose strict quantity limits or high import duties.

Alcohol is subject to multiple layers of import costs in most countries. These are paid by the recipient at the point of import and are not included in your forward2me shipping quote.

 Excise Duty – A tax applied specifically to alcohol, separate from customs duty. Rates vary significantly by country and by product type (wine, spirits, beer). This is typically the largest import cost for alcohol shipments.

 Customs/Import Duty – Applied based on the HS code of the goods. Rates depend on the origin country and any trade agreements in effect. Shipments within the EU from Germany benefit from free movement of goods and are generally not subject to import duty.

  VAT / Sales Tax – Most countries apply VAT or local sales tax on imported goods including alcohol, calculated on the value of the goods plus any duties already applied.

  Personal import limits – Many countries cap how much alcohol an individual can import duty-free or at all. Most limit personal shipments to 1–6 bottles. Exceeding these limits can result in seizure or refusal at customs.

  Insurance (Protect+) – We offer Protect+ insurance for alcohol shipments. Without it, any carrier claim for breakage is calculated using SDR (Special Drawing Rights) — an international liability unit set by the IMF. Standard rates are approximately 8.33 SDR/kg for road transport and 19 SDR/kg for air, which often falls well short of the actual value of the goods. Protect+ closes that gap.

Follow these steps to ensure your shipment is processed smoothly and reaches its destination.

 Order from your chosen retailer

Shop from retailers in the UK, Guernsey, Germany, or Japan and use your unique forward2me warehouse address as the delivery destination at checkout. Note: alcohol cannot be shipped from our US warehouse.

Check the ABV and quantity

Verify your items fall within shippable ABV thresholds (up to 70% ABV for most couriers) and that the quantity per shipment doesn't exceed 5 litres. Spirits above 70% ABV cannot be shipped via standard courier services.

Provide a purchase invoice

When your items arrive at our warehouse, submit a purchase invoice. It must include: alcohol type and product description, ABV percentage, bottle volume in ml, and declared value. We use this to generate the commercial invoice, assign the correct HS code, and verify the shipment is within permitted limits. For shipments from Germany valued above €3,000, additional detail is required — contact us for guidance.

Professional packing (required)

Standard retail packaging is rarely sufficient for international transit. We repack your alcohol with absorbent materials, foam dividers, and a new double-walled outer box to meet courier standards and prevent breakages.

Check your local duties and laws

Before your shipment is dispatched, confirm your country's import limits and estimated duty costs. This avoids surprises at the border and ensures delivery is permitted to your address.

When alcohol arrives at our warehouse, it is automatically flagged in our system for inspection and repackaging. In around 90% of cases, we repack before shipping — not because the original packaging is necessarily poor, but because we use this step to verify the destination's import rules, check quantities, and ensure the shipment meets courier standards.

Each bottle is packed individually using dedicated bottle cartons and honeycomb paper wrapping, then placed in a robust outer box. Where available, we use DHL-supplied bottle packaging (UK warehouse). High-value bottles are handled by a dedicated, experienced warehouse team member.

• Dedicated bottle cartons – Each bottle goes into its own individual inner carton, not loose in a shared box.
• Honeycomb paper wrapping – Each bottle is wrapped in honeycomb paper before being placed in its carton, providing cushioning and leak containment.
• Dividers between bottles – Where available, dividers or bottle separators are used to prevent contact between bottles.
• Sturdy outer box – All bottles are packed into a strong outer carton suitable for international air or road freight.
• Correct labelling – We apply any required fragile or handling labels before dispatch.