V-Flyer

Just as a heads up, the Barbados government have just introduced a new tax on any duty free cigarettes taken into BGI.

Tax consists of:-

Duty Tax - BBD10.10
Exise Tax - BBD 37.60
Environmental Tax - 3%
VAT - 15%

Will be interesting to see how they enforce this - will take ages to work out if they stop you! [:I]

So not Duty Free then [:?]

Free of duty where they were purchased...

What's the betting that many of the duty free fags (and booze for that matter) actually get consumed / used at the destination and arn't brought back into the UK?

quote:Originally posted by tontybear
What's the betting that many of the duty free fags (and booze for that matter) actually get consumed / used at the destination and arn't brought back into the UK?




100% of my Duty Free purchases are consumed outside of the UK (I only buy booze)

quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy
quote:Originally posted by tontybear
What's the betting that many of the duty free fags (and booze for that matter) actually get consumed / used at the destination and arn't brought back into the UK?




100% of my Duty Free purchases are consumed outside of the UK (I only buy booze)


I've wondered the following for a while. Is buying duty free a matter of price or convenience ? When able to shop locally in the US or the caribbean it's always seemed to me that the price of a bottle of spirits is much lower in the supermarket than in the duty free shop.

Paul

I suppose at some destinations it is cheaper to buy outside the country in Duty Free (Scandinavia, UAE) otherwise it only seems useful on the return journey to me!

quote:Originally posted by pjh
quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy
quote:Originally posted by tontybear
What's the betting that many of the duty free fags (and booze for that matter) actually get consumed / used at the destination and arn't brought back into the UK?




100% of my Duty Free purchases are consumed outside of the UK (I only buy booze)


I've wondered the following for a while. Is buying duty free a matter of price or convenience ? When able to shop locally in the US or the caribbean it's always seemed to me that the price of a bottle of spirits is much lower in the supermarket than in the duty free shop.

Paul


It's certainly worth bringing in named brands duty free. But you can get local spirits for not a lot more than in the UK.

I'd be interested to see how they administer this. BGI doesn't have a huge customs hall and I've never been stoped and asked what I'm bringing in with me. Not that I ever try to bring in more than one bottle of booze [:w]. Unless this is merely for duty free cigs bought on the island?When I was there in early May they hiked up the local duty on tobacco and alcohol, so perhaps this is an attempt to close the gap between the two prices?

quote:Originally posted by gingerflyer
I suppose at some destinations it is cheaper to buy outside the country in Duty Free (Scandinavia, UAE) otherwise it only seems useful on the return journey to me!


It is absolutley not true that it is cheaper to buy spirits on domestic market in Scandanavia cheaper than in Duty Free shops there[:0] Prices are off the wall.
Please remeber on domestic market size is usually 70cl whist in DF market it is 100cl. Cigarettes can be cheaper especially in Eastern Europe domestic markets due to controlled pricing, but quality is not same from what you buy in Duty Free shops. Trust me on this one[;)]

It is possible to find Mount Gay Rum cheaper in Barbados in the supermarket than in duty free shop. Same can be said Vodkas produced in Russia,and sold in Russia, but for imported brands very rarely.

Iain

quote:Originally posted by iforres1
Please remeber on domestic market size is usually 70cl whist in DF market it is 100cl.


Fair point, and one I'd overlooked.

quote:Originally posted by iforres1
It is possible to find Mount Gay Rum cheaper in Barbados in the supermarket than in duty free shop.


It was the Mount Gay experience that set me thinking.

Paul

In most countries any locally produced alcohol, Rums, vodkas, raki's etc will normally be cheaper in the local supermarket than in the equivalent Duty Free shop of that country. Souvenirs would also be the same. Mostly because most 'tourists' will not venture into a local supermarket during their stay and therefore will not be aware of the price difference between local and duty free shops for locally produced items anyway. Duty Free shops rely on the last minute pressie symdrome e.g Turkish Delight from Istanbul for grannie etc. Wont be cheaper but it is convenient to buy on the way home. As I mentioned Int. Brands should have a significant difference than downtown.

Iain

quote:Originally posted by virginboy747
Just as a heads up, the Barbados government have just introduced a new tax on any duty free cigarettes taken into BGI.

Tax consists of:-

Duty Tax - BBD10.10
Exise Tax - BBD 37.60
Environmental Tax - 3%
VAT - 15%

Will be interesting to see how they enforce this - will take ages to work out if they stop you! [:I]


My colleague in BGI confirms it is a bit like the customs check in the UK. IF they catch you bringing in DF cigarettes then you will pay the duties. As most people will have bought in DF shops at an airport or on board you will need to hide them in your cases when you collect them before going through customs[V][:)]

quote:Originally posted by iforres1


My colleague in BGI confirms it is a bit like the customs check in the UK. IF they catch you bringing in DF cigarettes then you will pay the duties. As most people will have bought in DF shops at an airport or on board you will need to hide them in your cases when you collect them before going through customs[V][:)]


And I bet they will be watching out for those that do this ready to stop them when they do pass the customs officers.