A boat trip to France can offer you huge savings on your favourite tipple
Travel in the off-season and take advantage of the generous alcohol limits on the return journey
Although ferry companies like to dress it up to the nines – describing it as a stylish French getaway and praising the cultural wonders – for most Irish people, it remains the “booze cruise”.
The staple of the shoulder season in the travel market – before peak season fills the ships with families heading to campsites on their holidays – canny operators of the Ireland-France route raise their glasses to a consumer winner.
Stena Line, an operator on the Rosslare to Cherbourg route, carried out research recently on the costs of a wine haul when all costs are taken into account, compared with simply buying at home – and found savings up to €1,900.
Its three-day cruise starts from €295 for a car, two adults and an inside fourberth cabin until May 26 and after September 9. They will also include a wine tasting element in September.
Irish Ferries sails from Dublin to Cherbourg on its flagship, the WB Yeats, and has seen growing demand from Irish customers.
“Once they’ve tried it [the booze cruise], we’re seeing that they tend to make it an annual event, especially if travelling with friends,” the company says.
“The ability to pre-order wine before leaving from Dublin, for collection on arrival in Cherbourg, is a strong attraction for those on a quick break over and back.
“People are keen to find an interesting purpose to travel for – and all the better if they can find a bargain to boot, both for the travel and for the wine!” it adds.
In terms of the type of customer the sailings attract, Irish Ferries says it ranges from couples to “friends travelling together for the occasion, or people who want to buy in volume for special occasions like birthdays or weddings”.
Buying this way can certainly lower the price of your favourite tipple, but you do have to factor in all of the trip’s costs before you know you’re actually getting a bargain.
Ferry companies often enhance the offering by including wine tastings on board, or special guests.
Irish Ferries’ wine tasting typically kicks off shortly after the 4pm Dublin departure, using the services of their wine partner – the Wine & Beer Supermarket in Cherbourg.
“We generally have between six and eight wine producers representing different regions and varietals onboard for each wine-tasting cruise.
“And it’s not just French wine being represented – our trip in May (€349 for return for two people plus car with inside cabin), will include Spanish wines, for example.
“We often have food producers from the Normandy region participating too, encouraging passengers to sample the very best of local fare with a gastro guide prepared by award-winning food writer and chef, Trish Deseine.”
Tax savings
The popularity of the “booze cruise” is in no small part due to the savings on excise duties and Vat on alcohol.
Ireland has the highest excise duty on wines in the EU and the second highest on beer.
In fact, according to DIGI – the drinks industry lobby group – 14 countries charge no excise at all.
That puts Irish drinkers as a disadvantage – but as long as they are buying for “personal use”, they can use these trips to stock up on wine, beer and spirits to consume at home for far less.
Excise duties on alcohol are complex.
Revenue applies different rates for different products, based on the volume of alcohol, known as ABV (alcohol by volume). Spirits have a levy of €42.57 per hectolitre (100 litres), beer varies from none (for alcohol-free) to €22.55 per hectolitre for higher ABV levels.
Still white or red wine varies from €141.57 for under 5.5pc ABV, to €616.45 for 15pc ABV or more. Sparkling wine is the most punishing at €849.68, taking the fizz out of your celebration.
On top of all of that is Vat, which is a punishing 23pc, and is levied after excise duties are applied.
It is a societal as much as a financial decision by Government.
According to the Central Statistics Office, Vat makes up more than two thirds of product taxes each year – €19.3bn in 2022. Excise duty is the next largest category, with alcohol and tobacco products accounting for 35pc of the total. The next biggest category is petrol.
“Increasing taxation on alcohol has the potential to lower alcohol consumption and its resulting harm, as well as increasing revenue for the Government,” it points out.
What are you allowed?
There are generous limits on what you can bring home from a booze cruise before extra duties or taxes are levied.
The amounts considered for ‘personal use’ are:
■ 10 litres of spirits such as whiskey, gin and vodka
■ 20 litres of other alcoholic drinks with no more than 22pc alcohol, for example port, sherry and some liqueurs
■ 90 litres of wine, of which only 60 litres can be sparkling
■ 110 litres of beer. However, you may be asked to prove it, so it’s important to keep receipts of purchase to prove you have already paid duty and tax in the country of origin. You must transport and accompany the goods yourself, and you cannot intend to sell them on return.