I came through the LHR red channel from Capetown with six bottles of Boschendal bubbly completely intact in my Delsey.
I told the customs guy that the only booze my wife could tolerate was Champagne, Cava of similar as there is no yeast in it ( Not a lot of folks know that.)
He kindly waved me through.
On another trip I was asked to bring back from Jamaica some overproof rum and cigarettes for an office pal. The best I could get was 110 proof as 151 was banned on aircraft in those days.I happened to brush the wall, en route to the gate, with the duty fee bag but thought no more about it.
The bag was popped in the window bin of the 747 bubble.
Thinking someone nearby was enjoying their rum, alarm bells sounded and a quick check found a puddle of rum and soggy fags. The CC quickly soaked it up with a blanket and I was left out of pocket trying to do a friend a favour.