Can You Ship Alcohol?
Let’s start with the most obvious query: as a consumer, are you able to ship alcohol to yourself? Unfortunately, no—unless for some reason they have the necessary licenses and permits that allow them to distribute alcohol. Shipping alcohol to consumers is illegal. When the US decided to allow people to drink again with some state-by-state guidance following the passage of the 21st amendment, these federal regulations were implemented, but why? Alcohol must be off limits to consumers as one of the requirements for shipping alcohol.
Now, licensed alcohol sellers—whether they are vineyards or start-up tequila companies—are a different matter. In order to avoid encountering too many obstacles along the way, licensed distributors and retailers of alcohol will give priority to obtaining the necessary licenses and permits to ship alcohol, whether that be domestically or internationally. They must be knowledgeable of local and state alcohol shipping laws as well as other state delivery requirements. So it’s unlikely that you’ll ever be able to send someone your preferred cocktail ingredients or bottle of red wine unless you’re a legally permitted spirits seller.
Is It Acceptable To Ship Alcoholic Beverages?
The transport of alcoholic beverages within the US is lawful. It is not necessarily simple, though. Only businesses that have been granted a license to deliver alcohol to events in states that allow shipments are authorized to ship alcohol.
In other words, if you don’t have a license to ship alcohol, you can’t. If you try to ship alcohol without the necessary authorization, you could be fined.
States That Don’t Allow Alcohol Shipping
Here is a list of the states where alcohol cannot be shipped to residents if you’ve been wondering to which states you can ship alcohol.
- Massachusetts
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Utah
- Maryland
- Delaware
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Maine
- Montana
- Kentucky
- Arizona
- Hawaii
- West Virginia
- Mississippi
Therefore, you risk getting into serious legal trouble if you try to ship alcohol to regular residents of any of those states. It is a good idea to be familiar with state-by-state alcohol delivery regulations for the states you plan to ship to.
How To Pack Alcohol For Shipping?
Wine bottle shock makes it necessary for alcohol to be packaged differently than other products. Wine oxidation should be avoided at all costs, especially when transporting wine over long distances. Whether you’re sending a single bottle of wine or a case of beer, here’s how to package alcoholic beverages for shipping:
- Use heavy-duty eCommerce packaging. Because alcohol containers are so heavy, a regular cardboard box won’t do. You typically need an outer layer of heavy-duty cardboard and an insulated packaging layer. Alternatively, you can put a polystyrene container inside a double-walled box or use boxes that already have styrofoam cases inside. Learn how to measure a box for shipping first if you’re unsure of the size to use.
- Securely wrap each bottle or case. Your packaging needs to prevent breakage whether you’re sending one special wine bottle or a six-pack of beer from an online marketplace. Nestle beverages in the box using styrofoam, packing paper, or foam sheets. The packaging for alcohol should have as little empty space as possible. This stops bottles from moving, packaging from being harmed, and a box from rupturing.
- Stock up on bubble wrap. Depending on the product you’re shipping, bubble wrap may not be necessary, but it never hurts to have some on hand. It can be used to cushion the sides of boxes, wrap beer cans, and attach tape to a case of wine or liquor. Make sure the box can be closed without being hindered by the bubble wrap.
- Your box’s bottom and top should be double-taped. Due to weight and contents, it is crucial to tightly seal boxes containing alcoholic containers. The simplest way to do this is to double tape box flaps. Add this step right away to your warehouse management process flow if it isn’t already part of picking and packing.
- Label the boxes’ tops. Although it may be tempting, shipping labels should always be placed on top of boxes. In this manner, delivery personnel will always know which way is up even if your box is moved around or turned on its side.
- whenever possible, steer clear of extreme temperatures. Sometimes it’s impossible to avoid shipping in the dead of winter or the height of summer. Whenever you’re able, shipping packages in milder weather is safer. It lessens the possibility that any container will freeze or burst.
Write down your version of the aforementioned steps if you’re standardizing an alcoholic beverage packaging procedure for the first time. Then print it out, laminate it, and distribute it to your warehouse staff. Time and effort will be saved by doing this, especially during peak times.
Look no further than BlueCart if your shipping needs are expanding and you require a solution to match. Our integrated shipping tools combine the purchasing power of our customers to bargain for the best prices from more than 60 shipping companies. Print packing slips and labels with a shipping label printer, calculate shipping costs based on weight, and use a shipping cost estimator to track shipments and returns.
How To Ship Alcohol?
The top four shipping companies used by retailers shipping alcoholic beverages are: UPS, FedEx, USPS, and DHL. There are a few characteristics that all carriers who transport alcoholic beverages will share. As a result, a delivery surcharge will be applied. Therefore, you must firstly indicate that the shipment contains alcohol. Naturally, a person over the age of 21 must sign for the delivery. Beyond these few points of similarity, these carriers will differ considerably.
UPS
Even though UPS still doesn’t deliver directly to customers, with the right permits they can move alcohol easily between retailers. The seller must comply with the following to ship alcohol through UPS:
- Must enter the UPS Approved Spirit Shippers Agreement
- Must provide all required state alcohol licenses to UPS for shipping
- 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
FedEx
While FedEx’s requirements for shipping alcohol are very similar to UPS’s, they also have some distinctive elements that make the process unique to FedEx. The seller must: in order to comply with FedEx’s requirements for shipping alcohol:
- Have a valid FedEx Account
- Contact a FedEx account executive by contacting customer service
- Enter a FedEx Alcohol Shipping Agreement
- Use a FedEx Ship Manager-approved third-party system or an electronic shipping solution.
- Must identify all alcohol shipments by selecting alcohol on the shipping software
- Alcohol shipments must meet all FedEx alcohol packaging requirements
- All alcohol shipments must have an alcohol shipping label to indicate the contents
- Must be able to provide an eligible adult signature upon delivery for all alcohol packages
United States Post Office (USPS)
Unfortunately, if USPS is your chosen shipping service, you cannot ship alcohol using them. Beer, wine, and liquor are restrictive substances and are not able to be mailed through USPS. Due to the fact that state laws and regulations vary widely, USPS abides by all federal laws and regulations, making alcohol shipments illegal. All labels must be removed, even if you want to mail something in a box that was once used for alcohol.
DHL
The shipping company DHL focuses on sending packages internationally. The prerequisites for sending alcoholic beverages through DHL will be as follows:
- 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
- Must provide all required state or international alcohol licenses to DHL for shipping
- Must provide copies of federal basic and applicable state-issued shipping permits
- To receive the appropriate shipments, import customers must be in possession of all necessary authorizations.
How To Ship Whiskey?
Whiskey can be shipped in the same way as wine or other alcoholic beverages. To ship whiskey, you will require a permit, a special agreement with UPS or FedEx, and you can only do so to recipients in states where such shipments are permitted.
It’s possible that you’ll also have to pay taxes or duties if you’re shipping to a retailer. Everything is based on where the whiskey is being shipped.
How To Ship Liquor?
Since liquor is an alcoholic beverage, it must adhere to the same stringent shipping regulations as wine. This means that you will need a license to ship alcohol, a special agreement with UPS or FedEx, and you must ship alcohol to states where doing so is legal.
It is much simpler to determine the laws governing liquor shipping if you are only moving alcohol within your own state.
How To Ship Wine?
A lot of businesses are incredibly interested in shipping wine. This is particularly valid for vineyards and wineries that produce large amounts of wine. If you have been trying to figure out how to ship wine, then the very first thing that you need to do is to obtain a license on shipping wine. No matter which state you are in, if you don’t have a license, you can’t do it.
A special agreement with UPS or FedEx must then be made after that. The next step is determining the precise locations to which you can ship wine. You can ship wine using UPS Freight or FedEx Freight once you know where it can be delivered.
How To Ship Beer?
When shipping beer, there are a few things to take into account. The appropriate container must first be selected. The best material for beer is glass, but it is also the most delicate. You must use a box that is made for shipping glass bottles if you’re mailing beer. These boxes can be found at your neighborhood packaging shop.
Make sure your beer is properly sealed in the second place. For your beer’s seal, use a cork or a bottle cap of high quality. Prior to sealing the bottle, make sure it is free of air bubbles.
Third, you must shield your beer from light. Beer should be kept in a pantry or other dark area. Beer bottles can be shielded from light when being sent through the mail by being wrapped in brown paper.
Fourth, you must shield the beer from heat. Beer should be kept in a cool, consistent environment. Beer can be kept cool during transit by using cooling packs when sending it through the mail.
The last thing you need to do is make sure your beer is shipped upright. The beer won’t be shaken up and won’t lose its carbonation as a result of this.
There are a few additional considerations if you are sending beer abroad. Before anything else, double-check the destination nation’s customs policies. Importing alcohol is prohibited in some nations. Second, understand any taxes or duties that might be imposed on your shipment. It’s crucial to conduct thorough research before shipping because these conditions can change depending on the nation.
Can Alcohol Be Shipped Around The World?
When shipping alcohol internationally, the logistics and preparations are even more difficult. Taxes are added to international shipments, regulations must be verified, and both sender and recipient must be ready for delivery. The steps for shipping alcohol abroad are as follows, despite the packaging looking very similar:
- Acquire the necessary licenses: For the export of alcohol, numerous licenses are necessary. The first step when thinking about shipping something internationally is to make sure that all legal matters have been resolved and provided.
- Choose a shipping company: It’s time to select a shipping provider from UPS, FedEx, or DHL once you’ve obtained the necessary licensing. Each has particular shipping requirements, and there are even more specifics to work out for shipments that are going abroad, as we are all aware.
- Follow All Shipping Regulations: Obtaining all required documentation is only one aspect of adhering to all shipping regulations. To ensure that all aspects of the shipping process are in order, make sure that alcohol shipments are packaged correctly and are labeled appropriately for international use.
Conclusion
If you abide by the state and local laws specific to the locations you’re shipping from and to, you can ship alcohol to the majority of states. It’s a great way to expand your customer base outside of your immediate area to ship alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages across state lines.
