Arizona Laws 4-244.02. Unlawful importation of spirituous liquor; exceptions
A. It is unlawful for any person, not a qualified licensee under this title, to import spirituous liquors into this state from a foreign country unless:
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 4-244.02
- Department: means the department of liquor licenses and control. See Arizona Laws 4-101
- Legal drinking age: means twenty-one years of age or older. See Arizona Laws 4-101
- Licensee: means a person who has been issued a license or an interim retail permit pursuant to this title or a special event licensee. See Arizona Laws 4-101
- Person: includes a partnership, limited liability company, association, company or corporation, as well as a natural person. See Arizona Laws 4-101
- Spirituous liquor: includes alcohol, brandy, whiskey, rum, tequila, mescal, gin, wine, porter, ale, beer, any malt liquor or malt beverage, absinthe, a compound or mixture of any of them or of any of them with any vegetable or other substance, alcohol bitters, bitters containing alcohol, any liquid mixture or preparation, whether patented or otherwise, that produces intoxication, fruits preserved in ardent spirits, and beverages containing more than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume. See Arizona Laws 4-101
- United States: includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Arizona Laws 1-215
1. Such person is the legal drinking age.
2. Such person has been physically within such foreign country immediately prior to such importation and such importation coincides with his return from such foreign country.
3. Except as provided in subsection B, the amount of spirituous liquor imported does not exceed the amount permitted by federal law to be imported duty-free, in any period of thirty-one days, except that if the federal law prescribing such duty-free limitation is repealed or amended, then in no event shall the amount of duty-free importation into this state be more than one liter of spirituous liquor during such period.
B. To the extent permitted by federal law, a member of the Arizona national guard, the United States armed forces reserves or the armed forces of the United States may import more than one liter of spirituous liquor for personal use into this state if the importation coincides with that person’s return from a tour of duty in a foreign country. A person who imports more spirituous liquor pursuant to this subsection than the amount permitted by federal law to be imported duty-free shall be responsible for the payment of any federal taxes due on the quantity of spirituous liquor that exceeds the duty-free amount. The department may issue letters of exemption to allow military personnel to import spirituous liquor pursuant to this subsection.