Brexit myth: Switzerland's border

The negative Euromyths (straight bananas etc.) seem to have been replaced in the public prints by more positive Brexit myths. One which has recently been promoted is that Switzerland is a model for Northern Ireland.  Denis MacShane explains in the New European:

The latest myth to be peddled is that Switzerland has little or no regulatory controls on goods that travel between the Alpine nation and its neighbours.

Brexit propagandists try to deny that [...] re-partitioning of Ireland will be a problem. One way in which they have tried to achieve this is by implying that Switzerland’s borders with the EU are virtually non-existent, as Daniel Hannan, the Conservative MEP, suggested on Newsnight recently.

He even had the cheek to write, in an article for the Sun: “I cross the EU’s border with Switzerland every month. Not that I’d notice if I didn’t know it was there. Most of the crossings between the EU and its neighbour are unmanned. Some are invisible.”

but

Of course there are many small paths and narrow rural roads that cross into Switzerland – like those that bisect other frontiers in Europe – which do not have physical check points. And, as part of the EU’s Schengen area (unlike the UK), there is no need for passport checks. But Swiss customs laws remain in force, all along the Swiss frontier. The border is still there, in a very meaningful sense. The absence, in some remote spots, of physical check points does not constitute a “frictionless” frontier. And the border posts on main roads are far from invisible.

When I worked in Geneva, before becoming an MP, I lived 100 metres from the French-Swiss border post on a minor road between the French Jura region and the Geneva canton. Border posts on both sides were staffed all day and all night. Of course, most cars were waved through, especially those with local number plates. But some were stopped and checked in case they broke Swiss law and brought in more meat, poultry or alcohol than permitted.

MacShane may be an ex-alcoholic expenses trougher but as a former Europe minister he knows his stuff. However, if you do not believe him, believe the official government advice on exporting from the UK (we are still in the EU) to Switzerland:

All imported goods and services must be cleared with customs.