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Thousands of Brits might be breaking UK customs rules each time they mail items without knowing
Thousands of Brits could be breaking UK customs rules every time they post items without even realising it. The consequences of doing this are hefty as it could land them with an eye watering £2,500 fine.
Shipping specialists Cargo Force carried out new analysis which reveals a rise in people searching whether every day items are allowed to be posted, which suggests some widespread confusion over UK custom rules. In particular, searches for posting alcohol have jumped by 170 percent this year, with wine among the most commonly queried items.
Alcohol is in fact one of the biggest risk areas. Many Brits wrongly assume that sending multiple bottles of wine as a gift is allowed. However, doing this could breach customs rules.
Sending alcohol without the correct paperwork or duty paid can lead to seizure or fines of up to £2,500. The safety risk of flammable liquids during transit poses significant safety risks.
The confusion and uncertainty results in more than 10,200 annual Google searches made for specific alcohol-postage-related queries. Asad Mirza, shipping expert and CEO at Cargo Force, warned that even innocent mistakes can have a costly penalty.
They said: “Thousands of Brits are confused about what they can and can’t deliver themselves. Whether it’s the excitement of posting a gift to family or shipping personal belongings abroad, the risk of not knowing the rules is high.
“If your delivery is stopped, customs officers will decide the penalty based on individual circumstances.
“The minimum is £250, which is usually the first step. However, the fine can quickly rise to £2,500 depending on the severity.”
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UK customs officers seized over 3.3 million litres of alcohol in 2025 alone. While many of these packages were linked to businesses, Brits sending gifts or moving belongs abroad have also been caught out.
Asad Mirza urged anyone posting items abroad to check the rules carefully before sending anything.
They said: “A quick search could save you a huge fine, and the cost of your parcel.”
Alcohol is not the only item that can be seized by customs, there are four other things you need to double check before shipping abroad.
Perfumes and aftershaves are also prohibited as they are classified as hazardous materials due to their high alcohol content, making them flammable.
If they leak or are exposed to heat, pressure or sparks during transportation, they can ignite. So, if you’re planning on moving abroad with your perfume collection, think again.
Another commonly seized item by customs is cigarettes and tobacco. Brits often attempt to send cigarettes or tobacco without declaration, or go over their allowance limit.
Many countries strictly control their importation of tobacco, so risking sending these abroad can result in penalties or fines of up to £10,000.
Nail polish remover is also generally prohibited across most couriers as its flammable qualities can be a major hazard, as well as electric toothbrushes due to their lithium battery.
Similarly to power banks, the risk of battery-powered devices during transit is high. There is a chance of them catching fire or exploding on the way.
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