Buying Cigarettes/Tobacco. - Spain - Costa Del Sol/Gibraltar Discussion Forum, Holiday Forums

Buying Cigarettes/Tobacco.

Sanji

2017-05-07 13:07:40

In March and last week when buying cigs (using cash) at the official tabacos, when I asked for a receipt they wanted my passport.
Normally we carry a copy of our passports with us all the time, but on this particular afternoon my hubby hadn't taken his 'man bag ' with him which contains a copy of his passport, so they accepted his EHIC card that I keep in my purse.

I asked them why this has now become necessary, and they told me it was a government initiative to fight counterfeit cigs/ tobacco.
I opened a carton of cigs to take out a couple of packets the day before we came home, and I placed the carton in my hand luggage.

At Malaga airport after my bag had gone through the screening, they stopped me and opened up my bag to inspect the opened carton of cigs for the tax paid sticker on every packet.
Whilst rummaging through my bag, he asked me if I'd bought them in Spain. I had kept the receipt handy in my pocket and after showing it him, he was fine about it.

So, it seems that if you want a receipt, you now need some form of identification, and if you've got tobacco in your hand luggage keeping the receipt at hand in the airport is recommended.

Sanji x

Edited by Sanji 2017-05-07 15:25:45

jimd-f

2017-05-08 07:03:36

in malgrat de mar i was told a couple of years ago that if i wanted 800 cigs or more i needed to show my passport. just seemed like a pain at the time but i always got a receipt anyway with or without a passport.
last week i went into my usual tabac, didn't have my passport as i was just passing and they would not sell me 800 cigs.
next day i went into their sister business to get my cigs, armed with my passport, and they never bothered asking for it!
seems to be another of these spanish laws that they use when they want.
re cigs in hand luggage, gerona airport do a sweep on everyone now and again, and will open sealed cartons to ensure that every packet has the duty stamp on them

Sanji

2017-05-08 08:19:24

Hi Jim.
In the past I've never been asked for my passport. We both buy cigs together using cash (usually 10 cartons each) and they automatically gave me a receipt, just like you'd get when buying anything from any shop.

Strange that I've carried cigs before in my hand luggage and it was the opened carton of cigs that triggered a check. :shrug

Sanji x

Glynis HT Admin

2017-05-08 09:18:06

I always keep my tobacco purchase receipts in my purse but more to do with security here.

We often do runs to Belgium for our tobacco & always get asked when docking at Hull, & passing through passport control if we have any tobacco. (I think they help customs by filtering ) We're used to their questioning & once had every pouch counted by Customs.

It usually goes like this:-

"Have you any cigarettes/tobacco?"
"Yes, tobacco"
"How much?"
"3Kilo"
"You do know the guidelines are 1 Kilo?"
"Yes GUIDELINES"

When we got pulled aside the woman asked how much tobacco we had, we told her the truth (never lie) & she counted both our purchases to check. We were then asked a series of questions such as do we work, how much do we smoke per week, how did we pay for the tobacco cash or card. We pay by card so they know it's coming from our bank account & we haven't been given cash by someone else.

Thanks for the heads up Sanji, especially regarding passport on purchase . 👍

I can understand the airport checking you purchased from a shop but not why the shop needs to see your passport or ID.

Spain - Costa Del Sol/Gibraltar Discussion Forum

Post a Reply

Get the best deals!

from our cruise, ski and holiday partners