No duty free liquor for minors in Cochin Customs
THE Cochin Customs Commissioner has issued a 'Trade Facility' No. 23/2013 wherein he states/informs/directs/warns that:
Baggage Rules,1998 permit import of alcoholic liquor or wine not in excess of 2 litres by eligible passenger subject to the specified overall duty free allowance. The provisions of Section 15A of the Kerala Abkari Act (1 of 1077) specify that no person under the age of 18 years shall consume or use any alcoholic liquor, while Section 15B of the said Act prohibits sale or delivery of alcoholic liquor to persons under the age of 18 years. Therefore, it follows that liquor is not a bonafide baggage item for passengers who are persons below the age as specified in Sections 15A&15B of the Kerala Abkari Act. Law of the land also prohibits any such sale of alcoholic beverages to persons below the specified age through any outlets including Duty free shops (DFS).
Alcoholic beverages cannot be imported by passengers who are below the age specified in Section 15A& 15 B of the Kerala Abkari Act through the International Airport and any such imports shall be liable for confiscation. In view of the above-mentioned provisions of law, passengers below the specified age would not be eligible to purchase alcoholic beverages from the Duty Free Shops in the International Airport. It is also brought to the notice of all concerned that the existing provisions of Baggage Rules allow duty free clearance of liquor upto 2 litres per eligible passenger. Hence, import of liquor by such eligible passengers above the said limit of 2 litres shall be only on collection of applicable duties.
Any instances of deviation of above directions will be viewed seriously and would invite penal action.
Why is this called a Trade Facility? What is the facility here?
Now is there no restriction on women? Most Indian women don't drink, but an Indian woman returning from a foreign country is allowed to bring in two litres duty free.
And is this restriction imposed in Cochin through a facility applicable only in Cochin? What about other airports?
Please also see Duty-free liquor for children?