How to Ship Alcohol with UPS
- First, create a UPS account number
- Sign the UPS alcohol shipping agreement You can contact your UPS account executive by calling 1-800-782-7892. They’ll be able to help you sign this shipping agreement.
- Obtain a valid alcohol shipping license All alcohol shippers must be licensed and authorized to ship according to the federal or state laws and regulations of the origin and destination ...
- Think about destination restrictions UPS won’t accept shipments of beer or alcohol for delivery to consumers. UPS accepts shipments of beer or alcohol only among and between selected states. ...
- Use proper packaging UPS has specific packing requirements for shipping alcohol. They accept inner packaging of molded Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam, folded corrugated trays, or molded fiber trays. ...
- Use proper labeling UPS requires a special label signifying that the package contains alcohol. ...
- Document your shipment You’ll need to your shipping label with a UPS Compatible Shipping Solution like WorldShip.
- Obtain an adult signature An adult over 21 with proper identification needs to sign for the package upon delivery.
What is the best way to ship liquor?
Wrap Each Bottle
- Place a stack of packing paper on a flat work surface.
- Check the caps of all opened bottle to make sure they are tight.
- Place a bottle on its side, perpendicular to the corner of the top sheet of paper. ...
- Select two to three sheets of paper and wrap them as one around the bottle, rolling the bottle as you push forward.
What license do you need to ship alcohol?
- Only available to licensed customers enrolled in the FedEx alcohol shipping program.
- The return must be initiated by the original shipper.
- The returned goods must be in the original packaging (packaging and labeling that are already in compliance with FedEx policy).
What states allow alcohol delivery?
States explore permanent alcohol delivery Thirty-four states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., have all instituted on-demand alcohol laws since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Courtesy ...
How to ship alcohol through UPS, FedEx and USPS?
shipments
- Have a valid FedEx account number. You must have a FedEx account number. ...
- Contact your FedEx account executive. Contact your FedEx account executive to assist you with the authorization process. ...
- Sign the alcohol shipping agreement (s). ...
- Review and comply with the following shipping requirements: Use of an electronic shipping solution. ...
Can you ship alcohol via UPS as a gift?
No, you can't ship alcohol via UPS as a gift. Federal and state laws also mandate that only licensed businesses ship alcohol, too, so in broad terms, it's a no-go.
Can I send alcohol in the mail?
For shipments containing alcoholic beverages, shippers must sign and enter into an approved UPS agreement for the transportation of alcohol as applicable, must be licensed and must be authorized under applicable law to sell and ship alcohol.
Can you ship liquor with FedEx?
Only FedEx-approved, licensed alcohol shippers who've entered into a FedEx Alcohol Shipping Agreement may ship alcohol via FedEx® services. Consumers may not ship alcohol of any type via FedEx services.
Will USPS know if I ship alcohol?
Heads up: USPS will deny your shipment if your package has any labeling or branding that shows it MIGHT carry alcohol! If you're asking yourself why this matters, keep in mind that lots of people like to reuse old packaging for new shipments.08-Nov-2018
How can I send alcohol to a friend?
You must package the alcohol in the center of the shipment, away from the package's sides. Your package must be deemed sturdy by UPS. You must clearly label the shipment and meet UPS, origin state, and destination state guidelines. You must clearly label the package as containing alcohol.15-Apr-2020
How do you secretly ship alcohol?
Tightly wrap each individual bottle and six-pack before you get to your shipping store. As a guideline, you will want approximately two inches of bubble wrap encasing the beer. You'll also need a sturdy, corrugated, shipping box and a garbage bag. Do not use one of those lightweight cardboard box people use to move.
How do I ship a bottle of whiskey?
To safely ship alcoholic beverages, you should use strong cardboard boxes that have trays inside of them that provide sections for each bottle. This will keep the bottles separate and prevent them from smashing into one another. You can also wrap the bottles in bubble wrap for additional safety.09-Jan-2018
How do I ship a bottle of wine?
It has a strong seal that ensures the wine won't leak out on your clothing if the bottle does break. If you don't have a Wine Skin (or Skins, plural), pack the bottle in a waterproof bag. Then, wrap the bag with clothing or bubble wrap. If you have more than one bottle, make sure there's cushioning in between each one.
How do you send a bottle of wine to someone?
It is illegal in the US for non-licensed individuals to ship wine through the mail. If you would like to send someone wine, you will need to buy wine through a licensed company. Fortunately, there are many companies that can send fine vintages, bottles, gift baskets, and club memberships to your recipient.
Can you hide alcohol in a package?
It's considered a restricted substance, which means that there are safe, legal ways to do it; however, because you're an individual and not a licensed company, you can't do that. Not only do state and national laws prevent it, USPS, UPS, and FedEx all prohibit people from shipping alcohol.03-Mar-2020
Does USPS scan packages for liquids?
Nonflammable, nonhazardous liquids are acceptable to mail, if sealed inside a waterproof container. The outer container with the address label should also be strong and securely sealed. Mark the outer container as containing liquid, so that postal staff are aware of the contents inside.20-Dec-2018
Does USPS XRAY domestic packages?
Some of the mail that is sent through the United States Postal Service will pass through an X-Ray machine. There are no specific guidelines as to what may or may not be x-rayed, though mail sent to or through larger cities is likely to pass through an X-Ray machine.05-Dec-2019
How much alcohol can you deliver in Ohio?
ALLOWED. Ohio has relaxed laws for alcohol delivery fulfillment but prohibits producers that make more than 250,000 gallons of alcohol from delivery to consumers. You will need to become compliant for mailing alcohol to consumers in Ohio, as well as be aware of local and city laws.
Why is there a loophole in shipping?
There is a loophole that helps consumers ship beer, liquor, and wine to other states – if that other state permits the shipment of alcohol to consumers.
Is alcohol delivery allowed in Texas?
Texas. ALLOWED. Texas has loose laws for direct-to-consumer alcohol delivery and is the second market for at-home alcohol delivery. You will need to become compliant for mailing alcohol to consumers in Texas, as well as be aware of local and city laws across the state.
Is North Dakota a craft alcohol state?
ALLOWED. North Dakota has relaxed laws for alcohol delivery fulfillment and is a growing market for craft alcohol. You will need to become compliant for mailing alcohol to consumers in North Dakota, as well as be aware of local and city laws.
Is Nebraska a craft alcohol delivery state?
ALLOWED. Nebraska has relaxed laws for alcohol delivery fulfillment and is a growing market for craft alcohol. You will need to become compliant for mailing alcohol to consumers in Nebraska, as well as be aware of local and city laws.
Is Maryland a middle of the pack state?
ALLOWED. Due to its proximity to Washington D.C, Maryland has a middle of the pack market for alcohol delivery and has relaxed laws for alcohol delivery fulfillment. You will need to become compliant for mailing alcohol to consumers in Maryland, as well as be aware of local and city laws.
Is Kansas a direct to consumer state?
ALLOWED. Kansas has relaxed laws for alcohol delivery fulfillment and is a growing market for those looking at developing direct-to-consumer states. You will need to become compliant for mailing alcohol to consumers in Kansas, as well as be aware of local and city laws.
What is DHL shipping?
DHL is a shipping service that specializes in international shipments. The requirements for shipping alcohol through DHL will include: Must sign DHL’s Agreement to Transport Alcoholic Beverages. Shipment must adhere to all FDA and TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) guidelines and regulations.
What shipping companies accept alcohol?
There are four major shipping companies that are most commonly used by sellers shipping alcohol: UPS, FedEx, USPS, and DHL. All carriers that accept alcohol shipments will have a few things in common. First and foremost, you must indicate that the shipment contains alcohol, as a surcharge will be added to the delivery.
How old do you have to be to ship spirits?
All shipments must meet UPS packaging requirements for spirits. Must provide the signature of an adult 21 years of age or older upon delivery for confirmation. All packages must contain a special alcoholic beverages shipping label for domestic shipments.
How to keep beer palatability?
To maintain palatability, keep beer in an environment that’s around 40 degrees. Light: Especially for brews that highlight their hoppiness, keeping light away from beer is a must-have for shipping. In order to preserve the designed taste and freshness, beer should be kept in a dark storage environment.
Why should beer be airtight?
Make sure that beer is packaged in a cold environment and padded for protection to prevent unwanted air from getting inside storage.
How to protect wine bottles?
Make sure to protect bottles with padding and void-filling materials such as bubble wrap and cardboard dividers. Know the Product: Take note of how specific wines need to be stored, as some bottles need to be stored standing up while other blends may need to be placed on their side.
Can you ship alcohol through USPS?
Unfortunately, if USPS is your preferred shipping courier, you won’t be shipping alcohol through them. Beer, wine, and liquor are restrictive substances and are not able to be mailed through USPS. Since alcohol shipments are so often determined by the specific state laws and regulations, USPS abides by all federal laws and regulations, making alcohol shipments prohibited. Even if you want to mail an item in a box that was once used for alcohol, those labels must be completely removed.
Read about our temperature-controlled wine shipping process
Get the details on how we route wine shipments to make sure they arrive in top shape. Available in California, Oregon, and Washington.
Save on FedEx shipping by joining a wine association
Membership can help you grow your business and give you a voice with lawmakers. Plus, you’ll get access to FedEx discounts.
Your customers can control their deliveries with FedEx
With FedEx Delivery Manager ®, your customers can pick up wine and alcohol shipments on their schedules at more than 6,000 locations.
Couriers
Couriers have their own regulations regarding alcohol, regardless of state law. Even if it is perfectly legal to send alcohol in your area, you must comply with the service’s regulations in order to ship.
State law per seller
Even if you can figure out other carriers' rules and regulations, you've got municipal, state, and national rules to follow, too. This process is even more complicated if you’re shipping out of state.
Liquor Store POS
If you own a liquor store, you’ll need an expert Liquor Store Point of Sale (POS) system to manage your valuable inventory, and track the success of your store with ease.
Why won't the USPS ship alcohol?
Why USPS Won’t Allow You to Ship Alcohol. Believe it or not, USPS doesn’t allow for the shipment of alcohol because of laws enacted by Prohibition back in the 1920’s! Seriously. However, that’s not to say USPS will always prohibit the shipment of alcohol going forward.
How to contact FedEx if you don't have an account?
If you don’t have a FedEx account executive, give FedEx Customer Service a call at 1-800-GoFedEx (1-800-463-3339) and request that an account executive call you. Use an electronic shipping solution for reporting purposes. You’ll need to create your shipping label with FedEx Ship Manager®.
Does UPS ship beer?
UPS accepts shipments of beer or alcohol only among and between selected states. The ability to ship wine depends upon the nature of the shipper’s license to sell wine, and the laws of the destination states. UPS has specific packing requirements for shipping alcohol.
When did prohibition end?
The United States enacted Prohibition in 1920, and didn’t repeal it until 1933. There’s been a lot of time since then for our country to revise its laws prohibiting the shipment of alcohol. However, the good people on Capitol Hill still haven’t gotten around to it, for some reason.
Can you ship beer and wine with USPS?
That means pretty much every alcoholic beverage out there, including shipping beer and wine, is a no-go with USPS.
Do you need a shipping label for UPS?
You can grab these directly from UPS, and your account executive will be able to provide you with one. You’ll need to your shipping label with a UPS Compatible Shipping Solution like WorldShip.
Who is Rockwell Sands?
Rockwell Sands is a shipping guru and a wizard with words. After growing frustrated with all of the inaccurate (and boring) shipping resources out there, he decided to combine his love of writing and shipping into educational articles on Shipping School.
Can I Ship Alcohol To A Friend?
Maybe you just want to share one of your favorite beers with your friend who lives across town. Or maybe you want to send a bottle of your favorite whiskey to an old college friend across the country. Can you legally do this? The short answer is no.
Shipping Alcohol Within The Same State
This is the easiest way to ship beer or alcohol as it only requires knowledge of your local state laws. You should also be familiar with county and municipality laws as well since some counties and municipalities set their own rules regarding alcohol. This means that the law could be different from one town to the next within the same state.
Shipping Alcohol Out Of State
Shipping alcohol to another state adds another level of complexity to the situation. Even for e-commerce retailers who are licensed and authorized to ship alcohol, shipping between states can present challenges. Not only do you have to know the laws for the state in which you are located, but you also need to know the laws in the destination state.
Shipping Alcohol Out Of The Country
Many people ask, “Can you mail alcohol out of the country?” If you thought it was difficult to mail alcohol across state lines, then just imagine how hard it is to send it between countries. Regardless of the type of alcohol, it is extremely complicated to send alcohol products from one country to another.
USPS Alcohol Shipping Requirements
This is an easy one. The U.S. Postal Service does not allow alcohol shipments of any kind. So, the post office will not allow you to mail beer, wine, or liquor using any of their services. This dates back to the Prohibition era when alcohol was illegal in the United States.
UPS Alcohol Shipping Requirements
Can you ship alcohol via UPS? While shipping alcohol with UPS is possible, it is still not easy. You must comply with all the rules when it comes to these shipments. First, you must have a UPS account number, and you must have already signed an alcohol shipping agreement with UPS.
FedEx Alcohol Shipping Requirements
So, can you ship alcohol via FedEx? Yes! If you have selected FedEx as your shipping carrier, then here are the rules that will apply. The FedEx rules are very similar to the rules set forth by UPS. You will first need a FedEx account number as well as the proper state and local licenses for shipping wine or other alcohol.
How to ship alcoholic beverages?
To safely ship alcoholic beverages, you should use strong cardboard boxes that have trays inside of them that provide sections for each bottle. This will keep the bottles separate and prevent them from smashing into one another. You can also wrap the bottles in bubble wrap for additional safety.
What is wine shipping?
Wine shipping is something that many companies desperately want to do. This is especially true for wineries and vineyards who produce large quantities of wine. If you have been trying to figure out how to ship a bottle of wine, or a large quantity of it, then the very first thing that you need to do is to obtain a license to ship it.
Which states have strict shipping laws?
Some states have extremely strict alcohol shipping laws. The three most strict are Utah, Mississippi, and Kentucky. In Utah, for example, it is a felony to ship alcohol directly to consumers. Alaska, Florida, and Minnesota are three of the least strict states in terms of alcohol shipping laws.
Can you ship liquor to a state?
This means that you will have to obtain a license to ship it, get a special contract with UPS or FedEx, and only ship it to states where you can legally ship it to.
Can you ship alcohol to a friend?
How to Ship Alcohol to a Friend. Alcoholic beverages are beloved by people all across America. However, despite alcohol’s impressive popularity, it can be a challenge to ship. This is because there are several shipping and delivery laws which dictate how alcohol can be moved across the country.
Which states do not allow shipping of alcohol?
If you have been wondering which states you can ship alcohol to here is a list of states that do not allow alcohol shipping to residents. Massachusetts. Pennsylvania. Texas. Utah.
Can you ship whiskey?
Shipping whiskey is no different than shipping wine or liquor. You will need a license, a special contract with UPS or FedEx, and you will only be able to ship it to people in states where it is legal to ship it to. If you are shipping to a retailer, you may be required to pay some taxes or duties on it as well.
Important Updates
Effective October 1, 2021, Addendum A was updated. View International Alcohol Shipping Guide.
Who Can Ship Spirits
UPS only accepts packages containing Spirits from shippers who are licensed under applicable law and who have signed and entered into a contract with UPS for the transportation of Spirits.
Permissible Shipments
All spirits shippers must enter into a "UPS Agreement for Approved Spirits Shippers".
Package Preparation
All shipments must meet UPS packaging requirements for Spirits. UPS will accept inner packaging of molded Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam, folded corrugated tray, or molded fiber tray. Each packaging component secures the bottles into the center of the shipping container away from the side walls of the shipper.
Quantum View Notify
UPS recommends that Spirits shippers use Quantum View Notify® for Delivery Confirmation Adult Signature Required Spirits shipments. UPS sends a shipment notification email to the recipient informing them when the Spirits shipment will be delivered so that an adult at least 21 years of age can be available to complete the delivery.
Hold for Pickup
Approved Spirits shippers may use the UPS Hold for Pickup (HFPU) service for consumers who would prefer to pick up their Spirits shipments from a UPS Customer Center location.
Ship To a UPS Access Point Location
Approved Spirits shippers may use the Ship to a UPS Access Point® location service in conjunction with Adult Signature Required (ASR) for consumers who prefer to pick up shipments from UPS Access Point locations.