FLEET operators are being warned to caution van drivers against overloading vehicles while on Christmas 'booze cruises' to the continent. Overloading can damage vehicles, and hefty fines of up to £2,000 can be imposed as a result of overloaded vehicles, says the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association.

BVRLA director general Norman Donkin says: 'Although there are no longer stringent limits on the amount of alcohol allowed back into the UK, this doesn't give shoppers carte blanche to load a vehicle up to the roof.'

Guidelines from Customs and Excise on what it considers maximum amounts for personal use are 90 litres of wine; 110 litres of beer and 10 litres of spirit. For loads more than this evidence may be required, such as a wedding or party invitation, or the load can be seized.

The BVRLA has issued the following examples of maximum loads for two vehicles - the Ford Transit 80 has a payload of 737kg, equivalent to 39 cases of beer and 23 cases of wine. Ford Transit 190 has a payload of 1,592kg, equivalent to 86 cases of beer and 51 cases of wine. This is assuming beer is packed at 24x25cl bottles to the case and wine at 12x70cl bottles to the case.