Travel is stressful enough – worrying about whether you can take whiskey with you, and if you’re packing it right, should be the last of your worries.
As the holiday season approaches, here’s a quick guide to traveling with whiskey and getting where you’re going on the right side of the law, and with intact bottles and dry socks.
For Airlines
First, check out our comprehensive guide to flying with whiskey. The basic rules are 1) no flying with open containers; 2) check anything larger than 3.4 ounces; 3) no drinking your own whiskey on the plane, even if it’s out of those airplane bottles.
Based on personal experience, you can definitely get away with using your clothing as padding for your whiskey. I’ve been doing it for years, and I’ve never lost a bottle. But, if you’re more risk-averse than I am (or maybe just have nicer clothes), consider investing in one of the many products designed to keep bottles intact.
For Car Travel
The most important thing to keep in mind with car travel is to abide by all open container laws, especially if you’re taking a half-full bottle with you. Check the laws of the states you’re planning to travel through, but most states require that any alcohol being transported in the car needs to be securely stowed out of the reach of the driver and any passengers – in the trunk, for instance.
So, if you don’t finish that bottle of Booker’s at Thanksgiving dinner, you can probably take it home with you, but only if you’re careful to make it totally inaccessible to the driver as well as any potentially thirsty passengers.
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For Train Travel
Ah, trains – America’s most underrated mode of transportation. Amtrak has the most lenient alcohol policy of almost any mode of transportation. You’re permitted to bring your own alcohol aboard, and if you’ve booked a sleeping car, you can even drink it there. You can’t drink your own alcohol in public areas, but Amtrak has its own full bar, so you needn’t go entirely without.
On the Bus
Riding the bus is already kind of a bummer, but it gets worse than gross bathrooms and weird seat mates: Greyhound takes the hard line – no alcohol on board, period, in either checked or carry-on bags. Regional carrier policies differ, so check with your operator before getting the bad news about the stashed bottle of Laphroaig you’re counting on to help you unwind after the agony of a cross-country bus trip.
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