We've not boarded an outgoing flight at Heathrow since before the liquids ban came generally into effect. On our two or three trips outward bound from Heathrow to the US, we were always able to take aboard our customs-permitted allotment of alcoholic beverages, specifically Scoch whisky. Since one passes through security before gaining the boarding gate/vendors' area, is it possible to purchase Scotch from, say, World of Whiskies or the duty-free stores to bring on board for one's return flight to the US?

You can purchase liquids from European airports and carry them onto your US-bound flight. HOWEVER, you cannot carry them onto a connecting domestic flight.

For example. If you are flying London-New York-Nashville, then you can carry the liquids onto your London to New York flight. In New York, you would need to take the liquids and put them into your checked luggage prior to re-checking the bag after US customs.

If you are flying just London-New York, then you can carry the liquids onto your flight and straight off the plane all the way to your car.

This is one of the reasons that I greatly prefer connecting within Europe, rather than in the US (i.e. Madrid-London-Boston, rather than Madrid-New York-Boston).

Is that right? (that's a genuine question, not a challenge, or anything) In the EU, they will seal the bag and you can carry it past security barriers where you're connecting so long as you don't break the seal.

Sheila, yes that's right, and in fact it is the same coming from the US. Last year we flew to and from Phoenix via LHR. Because we were transferring we were not able to buy duty free at either AMS or PHX to carry on, maybe because our bags were checked through.
This year we're flying direct, but we probably won't bother with duty free anyway.

And I just read that BAA is going to abandon the silly 3 oz rule later in the year. But transfering planes in the US you'll still have to comply.

Avalon that doesn't mean other European airports will be abandoning the rule either, so it may only complicate matters.

It does mean it.

Latest April 2010, the quantitative regulations for liquids in cabin luggage will be abandoned. The EU Commission paved the way for this already last September with a new Directive. New scanners need to be installed, though, to discrimate between harmless and dangerous liquids.

It doesn't mean it.

The scanners cost £100,000 each, and not every airport is going to be queueing up to install expensive new kit - kit which <b> reduces </b> their and their concessionaires' revenue - while income's collapsing. <b> Especially </b> BAA, which is allowed to get away with extracting some new concession from its cronies in New Labour every time it spends a pound on repairing a broken-down toilet. But by April 2010 will be on the verge of dealing with a ruling party or coalition that's a great deal less tolerant of its antics.

Anyone taking a journey that involves a plane change, anywhere in the world, is going to have to live with the 3 oz rule for a very long time to come. As will the overwhelming majority of passengers on even one-sector flights - even those from BAA's estate..

Unless, of course, the Tories abandon their opposition to the Heathrow 3rd runway. Which - since that means losing the seats that will bring them back to power - is about as likely as a fat Spanish pig flying in his private plane and NOT jumping the Heathrow landing queue.

I *think* you already got them in the UK at many aiports.
From what I *read* on my local airport's website, BAA with was one of the first to buy the 3D aTix scanners for their busiest airports, and several US airports got them already.