Yes, you can bring wine in carry-on luggage if each container is 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less, or it’s duty-free in a sealed STEB.
Not Allowed
Conditional
Allowed
Carry-On
- Mini bottles inside quart bag
- No full bottles at security
- No self-service on board
3-1-1 Applies
Checked Bags
- Wine (≤24% ABV) unlimited by volume
- Use sleeves/padding
- Retail packaging preferred
Safer For 750 ml
Duty-Free & Connections
- Ask for STEB at purchase
- Keep sealed; show receipt
- Applies on international-to-U.S.
STEB Exemption
Bringing Wine In Carry-On Luggage: Rules And Tips
Wine counts as a liquid. That means your carry-on allowance follows the 3-1-1 rule: containers up to 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters), all inside one clear quart-size bag, one bag per person. A full 750 ml bottle doesn’t fit that limit, so only miniatures or samples belong in the liquids bag. If you buy wine after security or in duty-free, different rules apply, which we’ll cover below.
Two other limits matter. First, proof/ABV. Wine sits around 5–24% alcohol by volume, so it has no special hazmat cap in checked bags, but carry-on still obeys 3-1-1. Second, in-flight drinking. Bringing wine is allowed; opening your own bottle on board isn’t. Cabin crew are the only people allowed to serve alcohol on U.S. flights. Both shape what you can pack. Plan accordingly.
Quick Reference: Wine In Hand Luggage
Use this compact table to see what works at the checkpoint versus what belongs in checked baggage.
| Item Or Scenario | Carry-On Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mini wine bottle (50 ml) | Allowed inside quart bag | Counts toward your 1-liter bag space |
| Full bottle (750 ml) | Not allowed | Pack in checked bag or buy after security |
| Duty-free wine in STEB | Allowed for eligible connections | Receipt inside; bag sealed, untampered |
| Wine purchased post-security (not duty-free) | Allowed | Carry it to the gate; don’t open on board |
| Domestic U.S. flight with connection | STEB not applicable | Liquids over 100 ml won’t pass re-screening |
| International to U.S. with connection | STEB may apply | Keep it sealed; show receipt at security |
Most travelers run into problems at re-screening during connections. If you land from abroad and recheck bags, your duty-free wine must remain sealed in the STEB with the original receipt visible until you reach your final destination. If the seal is broken, the bottle will be treated like any other liquid over 100 ml under standard liquids through security checks.
Why The 3-1-1 Rule Controls Carry-On Wine
The 3-1-1 policy exists to keep screening predictable and fast. A quart bag limits the total liquid volume you can bring through the checkpoint and lets officers inspect items quickly. Wine is just another liquid under that rule, so mini bottles fit while full bottles don’t.
You can read the official rule in the TSA liquids rule, which sets the 3.4-ounce (100 ml) container maximum and the single quart-size bag. TSA’s page on alcoholic beverages restates the carry-on limit and adds the checked-bag thresholds by ABV.
Carry-On Wine: Packing Tactics That Actually Work
Use Minis Or Tastings
Travel-size wine bottles (50 ml) or small tasting tubes can ride in your quart bag. Space is tight, so aim for two or three minis along with your toiletries.
Buy After Security
Airport shops beyond the checkpoint may sell wine that you can carry to the gate. That avoids the 3-1-1 squeeze. If you have a domestic connection with re-screening, the bottle becomes a problem, so wrap it and check a bag or finish it before the next checkpoint.
Use Duty-Free Correctly On International Trips
When you’re connecting in the U.S. from an international flight, duty-free wine can pass re-screening if it’s sealed at purchase in a STEB and the receipt is visible. Keep the bag sealed until you arrive. If an officer must open the bag for screening and can’t re-seal it, transfer the wine to checked baggage to avoid seizure.
Protect Bottles In Checked Bags
If you decide to check wine, pad each bottle with clothing, or use a padded sleeve or inflatable protector. Carefully put bottles in the center of the suitcase to reduce impact risk. Tape capsules and use a leak-proof bag as a second layer.
Close Variant: Can You Take Wine In Hand Luggage On A Plane?
Yes—within the 3-1-1 limits. A miniature or two is fine in the quart bag. A full bottle belongs in checked luggage or must be bought after security. On planes bound for the U.S. with a connection, a properly sealed duty-free bag lets you carry a full bottle through the next checkpoint.
Alcohol Limits, ABV Rules, And In-Flight Service
Alcohol content matters once you move from carry-on to checked. Wine under 24% ABV has no per-passenger quantity cap in checked bags, while stronger beverages have a five-liter limit per person in retail packaging. None of this changes the carry-on limits, which still cap each container at 100 ml unless it’s a qualifying duty-free purchase.
One more point: don’t drink your own stash in the air. U.S. law says only cabin crew can serve alcohol. Opening your bottle during the flight can earn a warning, a fine, or worse. Save it for when you land.
Real-World Scenarios And Best Moves
Weekend Hop With Only A Backpack
Pack two mini bottles in the quart bag along with travel toiletries. That gives you a glass or two at your hotel without checking luggage.
International Return With A Connection
Buy wine duty-free at your last overseas airport. Ask for a STEB and make sure the receipt is inside and visible. Keep the bag sealed until you reach home. If you know you’ll re-check bags, a sturdy checked bottle kit is still the safest bet.
Regional Notes: U.S., EU, And UK Differences
Security rules are similar worldwide, but there are quirks. The European Union and the UK generally stick to 100 ml for liquids at security, with ongoing scanner upgrades in some airports. Duty-free rules about sealed security bags are widely recognized. Always check your departure airport’s page before you travel, since some locations trial larger limits or temporary changes.
Checked Bag Option: When It’s Better For Wine
Checking a bag is the low-stress move when you want to bring full bottles from point A to point B. There’s no ABV limit for wine in checked bags, and you won’t worry about re-screening. The trade-off is breakage risk, which smart packing largely solves.
Common Mistakes That Get Wine Confiscated
Breaking The Seal On A Duty-Free Bag
Opening the package before your final destination kills the exemption. Keep the bag closed, and don’t swap receipts.
Forgetting About A Connection
Buying a 750 ml bottle after security on a long trip with a domestic connection can backfire. You’ll hit 3-1-1 at the next checkpoint. If you can’t check a bag, buy at the last airport before your nonstop leg.
Putting A Full Bottle In Your Cabin Tote
Checkpoint officers will spot it quickly. Save time and hassle by packing full bottles in checked luggage or shopping after security.
Carry-On Wine: Quick Answers
Can You Carry A Corkscrew?
Yes, a simple corkscrew without a blade is allowed in carry-on in many places. If it has a small knife, put it in checked baggage to avoid surrendering it.
What About Duty-Free On Non-U.S. Trips?
Most airports worldwide honor the same sealed-bag approach for duty-free liquids. Keep the bag closed and the receipt visible until you finish the journey.
Reference Table: Routes, Rules, And Workarounds
| Route Type | Carry-On Wine | Best Move |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic U.S., nonstop | Buy past security or pack minis | Carry to gate; don’t open on board |
| Domestic U.S., with connection | Minis only through re-screening | Check bottles or buy at last airport |
| International to U.S., with connection | STEB-sealed duty-free allowed | Keep sealed; show receipt at security |
| Within EU/UK | 100 ml per container | Buy airside; watch airport-specific pilots |
| From EU/UK to U.S. | STEB applies for connections | Seal at purchase; no tampering |
Final Packing Checklist For Wine Flyers
- Stick to 3-1-1 minis for carry-on, unless the bottle is duty-free in a sealed STEB.
- Leave in-flight pouring to cabin crew; your own bottle stays closed.
- Protect checked bottles with sleeves, padding, and leak-proof bags.
- Keep receipts visible in the duty-free bag through your last checkpoint.
- Watch for connection re-screening that re-applies the 100 ml limit.
Liquids rules tie directly to broader airport policies. If you want a deeper primer on liquids through security, the piece on liquids in checked baggage explains the big picture.
Want More On Alcohol Rules?
If you’d like a broader overview beyond wine, try our short read on bringing alcohol on a plane.