Briefly, the process consists of the following:
- Submitting the required forms and fee
- Appearing before the local alcoholic beverage board for their recommendation
- Voting on the local board recommendation by the state Alcohol & Tobacco Commission members at their statutory meetings held the first Tuesday of each month
- Submitting to a final inspection of the premises by the State Excise Police
Full Answer
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 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 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 transport alcohol over state lines?
Where to find if you can transport alcohol into a state online
- Search “your state” Alcohol Statutes online to find the exact law for transporting alcohol into each state.
- Ask liquor store owners. Liquor store owners within the state you wish to travel to should be familiar with laws regarding transporting alcohol.
- Read online discussions. ...
- Freethegrapes.org. ...
Can you ship alcohol as a gift?
The United States Postal Service (USPS) prohibits sending alcoholic beverages through the mail, but you can ship alcohol via couriers, such as FedEx or UPS if you're a licensed alcohol shipper.
How do you personally ship alcohol?
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
Can FedEx ship alcohol?
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. Learn how you can become an approved alcohol shipper with FedEx.
What happens if I get caught shipping alcohol?
That being said, it is important to know that there are consequences if you are caught and that shipping alcohol is at your own risk. Typically, you'll get a written warning on an initial violation. Subsequent violations could lead to fines and or, gulp, jail time, so be mindful and be smart.
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 ship wine as a gift?
How to Ship Wine as a GiftCheck Your Recipient's State Laws for Wine Delivery. ... Know Your Friend's or Family Member's Wine Preferences. ... Carefully Package Each Bottle of Wine. ... Find the Right Box. ... Take Weather into Consideration. ... Some Bottles Travel Better than Others.More items...
Can DHL ship alcohol?
Customers residing in states that DHL is permitted to transport alcoholic beverages that would like to import may advise the shipper of their requirements and must have document copies ready for submittal in order to receive their shipments.
Can I put alcohol in my checked bag?
Checked Bags: Yes Alcoholic beverages with more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol are limited in checked bags to 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per passenger and must be in unopened retail packaging. Alcoholic beverages with 24% alcohol or less are not subject to limitations in checked bags.
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.
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 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 Hawaii a liquor delivery state?
ALLOWED. Hawaii has relaxed laws for alcohol delivery fulfillment, due in part to its remote location away from the US mainland. You will need to become compliant for mailing alcohol to consumers in Hawaii, as well as be aware of local and city laws.
Can you mail alcohol to Arizona?
California is responsible for the largest market for alcohol delivery, and the state’s compliance laws are very relaxed, especially for in-state fulfillment. You will need to become compliant for mailing alcohol to consumer s in Arizona, as well as be aware of local and city laws.
Is alcohol a state in Alabama?
PROHIBITED. Alcohol shipments to consumers is prohibited in the state of Alabama. Certain residents can apply for a special order request but must be fulfilled through the Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control Board.
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.
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.
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.
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 beer be shipped in glass bottles?
Bottles: Choosing to ship beer in glass bottles is a risky shipment decision that could lead to product leaking away throughout transit. This is the least preferable suggestion for shipping, especially long distance, but can be done with enough caution.
Does UPS ship alcohol?
UPS. While UPS still doesn’t offer direct delivery to consumers, they are able to ship alcohol among sellers fairly simply with the proper permits. UPS’ alcohol shipping requirements entail that the seller: Must enter the UPS Approved Spirit Shippers Agreement.
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®.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Can you ship alcohol in glass bottles?
For this reason, you need to be especially careful when you are shipping glass wine bottles, beer bottles, or liquor bottles, or shipping liquids in other delicate containers.
Why is shipping alcohol so complicated?
Here's a little history lesson as to why shipping alcohol is so darn complicated: it dates back to Prohibition, when alcohol was banned under the 18th Amendment. Luckily, fast forward a few years, and the 21st Amendment undid that awful idea—with a caveat: it gave states the power to enact their own laws regarding the production, distribution, ...
Is it legal to mail wine to Mississippi?
While it's perfectly legal to mail wine from this northern state, it's also perfectly illegal to receive wine shipments in Mississippi. In other words, Mississippi is not a reciprocal state, a state in which you can receive alcohol shipments from other states or countries, explains Lekkala.
Does FedEx ship alcohol?
FedEx's alcohol shipping policies can be read here, while UPS's alcohol regulations—much the same as FedEx's—can be found here (though the latter is broadening its scope a bit). Some of those universal rules? You must advise the carrier your package contains alcohol. A surcharge will be applied to the shipment.
Can you buy alcohol in one state?
Most—though not all—alcohol that can be purchased in one state can be found somewhere in another, so if you're dying to ship your brother a new brew, hit the web first to see if you can find a retailer in his state that carries the beverage, recommends Lekkala.
Can you ship Weinberg products through a distributor?
Once again, it's probably best to go through a retailer or distributor. Weinberg also recommends that you confirm with the retailer or distributor if any taxes or duties need to be paid on the product you intend to ship. If so, they should be able to advise you on how to pay them, and how much they will cost you.