I can remember in those longed for (by some) days of yore bringing 24 bottles of wine home when the limit was 6 bottles. We didn't bring back anything else (spirits, perfume or tobacco products) but went through the red light, told the official what we had and he waved us on. We got through more quickly than those queuing for the green light.
I also remember the booze cruises, after joining the EU, when white van men went to the supermarkets in Calais and filled their vans with cigarettes and booze. All ostensibly for personal use. lots of them got done over by customs.