Alcohol and tobacco more expensive upon arrival in the country
There can be a great deal of difference in the price of alcohol and tobacco in a free harbor store depending on whether shopping is on the way out of the country or on returning home. Amendments were made to the Alcohol and Tobacco Fees Act at the beginning of 2023 and alcohol and tobacco fees are now being placed on the sale in the arrival shop.
« Customs free stores were raised significantly, and at that point, the price policy had to be reviewed out of these fees that the state puts on the sale in the arrival shop, » says Þorgerður Þráinsdóttir, Managing Director of the Free Port.
One liter of Icelandic liquor costs ISK 3,999 in a departure store and ISK 4,399 in the arrival shop. The same applies to one liter of Tanqueray-Guini. There is even more price difference on tobacco. One carton of Winston cigarettes costs 8,399 in a departure store and ISK 9,999 upon arrival. The price difference is 19%. Karton of Marlboro costs ISK 9,199 out of the way, but 10,999 upon returning home. The difference is 20%.
Thorgerður says that the Free Port has received inquiries about the reasons for this value and explained them to its customers. Fortunately, however, most people realized this in the two and a half years that has passed since the legislative amendment.
Since alcohol fees are calculated from alcoholism, the price difference is primarily in strong wine and liqueur. Tobacco fees are very high and the difference is very large there.
When asked, Thorgerd does not recognize that Icelanders buy large -scale alcohol on their way out of the country and bring it back home. « But we have seen an increase in tobacco sales in the departure store. »
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