Can Drinks Go In Checked Luggage? | Pack Drinks Right

Why This Topic Matters For Flyers

Most travelers pack drinks for convenience or as gifts. The rules split by alcohol content, and the packing method makes or breaks your trip. Crack this once, and you’ll save money, keep luggage clean, and pass the counter without drama.

Taking Drinks In Your Checked Luggage – The Rules

Non-alcoholic drinks are fine in checked bags. The real constraints sit with alcohol by volume (ABV) and bottle condition. In short: beer and wine are simple; spirits need math.

Here’s a quick rule set many agents expect you to know: bottles over 70% ABV aren’t allowed; 24–70% ABV is limited to 5 liters per person in sealed retail packaging; 24% or below—think beer, cider, most wine—has no FAA hazardous materials limit, though airlines can still cap weight or count. For carry-on, the TSA 3-1-1 liquids rule applies to drinks just like shampoo.

Non-Alcoholic Drinks: Soda, Juice, Water

Got a favorite regional soda or a few bottles of specialty tonic? Those can ride in the hold. The catch is packaging. Handling can nudge weak caps or flimsy cans. Use fresh, factory-sealed containers when you can. If you’re bringing an opened bottle, replace the cap gasket, add plumber’s tape, and bag it like it’s guilty until proven dry.

Carbonated drinks deserve extra care. Agitation plus temperature swings can vent a can or push a cork. Wrap each can or bottle, then place them upright inside a snug plastic bin or shoe box wrapped in clothing. Skip thin grocery bags—they tear at the worst time.

Alcohol: Beer, Wine, And Liquor In Checked Bags

Beer and wine live under the ≤24% ABV bucket, which keeps things simple. Pack as much as your airline and suitcase weight allow, and protect each bottle like glassware you’d ship. Liquor above 24% ABV needs that 5-liter ceiling per traveler, and the bottles must be sealed and retail-labeled. Anything stronger than 70% ABV—often labeled “overproof”—stays home.

Numbers aside, think about risk. A corked wine can seep if it heats up. Screw-caps and crown caps are sturdier on planes. If an aged cork worries you, lay cling film over the mouth under the cap, or use a reusable bottle sleeve. The goal is a tight seal and a soft nest.

Duty-Free Bottles On Connections

Buying after security helps with carry-on limits, but connections can muddy the waters. If you re-screen, keep duty-free in the tamper-evident bag with the receipt visible. If you choose to check those bottles before a connection, treat them like any other retail-sealed bottle and pad well. When in doubt, check them from the start and skip checkpoint drama.

Packing Drinks To Prevent Leaks

This is where trips are won. A few cheap items beat a suitcase disaster: tape, large zip bags, soft cloth, and a rigid inner shell. It takes five minutes and saves laundry on arrival.

Bottle Choice And Prep

Prefer cans or PET plastic over glass when the taste allows. If it must be glass, pick thick-walled bottles. Tighten caps, then run electrical or painter’s tape around the closure. For corked wine, use a snug bottle sleeve or double sock trick—one layer for grip, one for cushion.

Seal, Bag, And Bundle

Put each item in its own leak-proof bag with a strip of paper towel to catch micro-drips. Group two or three into a second larger bag, squeeze out air, and tape the bundle. That creates a tidy brick that slides between folded clothes.

Place Bottles In The Right Spot

Center heavy bundles, surrounded by soft clothing, away from edges and wheels. Hard-side suitcases beat soft duffels here. If your case has compression straps, cinch them to stop bounce. Keep other liquids—oils, sauces—far from the drinks so one spill doesn’t trigger a second.

Airline And Country Differences To Watch

Carriers can set stricter caps than national rules, and some routes have quirks. Weight limits, per-bag bottle counts, or bans on certain packaging can pop up on specific airlines. International trips add customs allowances and taxes that kick in above a threshold. A quick glance at your airline’s baggage page and your arrival country’s customs site saves a fee at the desk.

Weight, Count, And Packaging Quirks

Even within one alliance, bottle rules can vary. Some carriers prefer factory cartons for wine; others are fine with sleeves. If you plan to check a full case, ask the wine shop for a molded shipper box and strap it shut with tape. That box handles belt rides better than a soft suitcase.

Edge Cases: Kombucha, Moonshine, And Dry Ice

Kombucha and other active ferments can bubble under stress. If the cap bulges, don’t pack it. Homemade spirits are a problem too: unlabeled, high-proof bottles are often over 70% ABV and barred from checked bags. Want to keep things cold? Airlines generally allow a small amount of dry ice in checked bags if vented packaging and weight limits are met, but that’s a separate rule set—check your carrier’s page before you try it.

Quick Carry-On Contrast

Carry-on is where most drink confusion starts. Pre-security, you’re limited to containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) inside one quart bag. That includes juice pouches and mini cans. After security, you can bring full-size drinks onboard from shops, and sealed duty-free alcohol is okay. If a connection sends you through screening again, that same 3-1-1 rule returns unless your duty-free sits in the tamper-evident bag with proof of purchase.

Simple Planning Checklist

Pick drinks that fit the ABV rules. Choose sturdy containers. Tape and bag every item. Build a cushioned center layer in a hard-side case. Snap a quick photo of the packed bundles before closing the lid—handy if you need to talk through contents at the counter. For reference, the TSA alcohol page and the FAA Pack Safe spell out the ABV thresholds in plain language.

Bottom Line For Checked Drinks

You can check drinks with confidence when you match ABV rules to smart packing. Non-alcoholic drinks and low-ABV bottles are the least hassle. Spirits need that 5-liter cap and sealed retail packaging. Skip anything above 70% ABV. Pack tight, double-bag, and center the weight. Do that, and your luggage arrives clean and your bottles arrive ready for the table.