The Laws Of Buying Wine At The Grocery Store
The weird labyrinth that is the world of liquor laws in America is an easy day-to-day reminder that state governments have some power the grocery store wine possibilities all depend on the state you happen to live in. The reason liquor laws like this vary so much is that after federal Prohibition was repealed, states could choose how, when, and even if they would sell alcohol. If you want to know the specifics of liquor laws state by state, check out this Washington Post article or the FTC website, both of which have generously done the heavy lifting for me.
It’s worth noting that, as outlined in the Post article, there are studies that delve into how the availability of wine in grocery stores affects alcohol consumption and addiction. Results have been reported that support both sides of the argument, and they shouldn’t be discounted. But that doesn’t change the fact that many liquor laws are strange and archaic, and their efficacy and purpose is debated.
Speaking of debate, let’s get into the reasons why this particular law is maddening.
Can I Sell Wine On Ebay
Yes, but only if youre an eBay-approved wine seller.
In order to become a licensed wine seller on eBay, you must first upload a copy of your alcohol license.
You must also abide by all requirements listed on eBays guidelines for selling wine.
Once approved, you must include the following in each listing:
- Your shipping policy, including which states you can ship to as well as any shipment restrictions
- Your states buyer eligibility requirements e.g., whether or not buyers can receive shipments directly or have to pick up their order elsewhere
- The buyers age requirement
- Indication you have been approved by eBay to sell wine
All The Ways To Buy Wine Online Explained
With an increasing number of people staying at home due to COVID-19, now is a good time to master the ins and outs of purchasing wine online. Some small wineries ship directly to consumers, but laws vary by state. Online retailers large and small offer breadth, depth and expertise, while digital wine clubs choose the wines for you, delivering regularly to your door.
Heres everything you need to know about ordering wine online.
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The 9 Best Wine Delivery Services Of 2021
- Best Food Pairing: Bottlerocket
- Best Bottle Sets: Wine Insiders
When you want to have fun shopping for wine without the headache, head to Bottlerockets site. It organizes wines by theme, allowing you to decide what kind of wine you want based on what youre eating or doing. You can browse by category, but isnt it more fun to shop by what kind of food you need to pair it with or whats appropriate as a gift for someone you barely know? . You have fun drinking wine. Shouldnt buying it be the same?
Looking for more alcohol delivery services? There are ones for whiskey, beer, and any other liquor, too!
Shop Online At Eatalyvinocom
That’s right amici your favorite bottles of vini italiani are now just a click away. Whether you’re seeking a trusted weeknight Chianti Classico, or looking for rare riserva bottles, Eataly Vino is excited to now deliver high-quality, regional Italian wines and spirits from robust reds and crisp whites to sparkling wines and rainbow of rosés straight to your doorstep. Step into the vineyard and visit eatalyvino.com to start exploring.
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Wine Manufacturers In New York State
New York State wineries may ship up to 36 cases of wine per year directly to a New York resident for personal use. The winery must require the purchaser to provide proof they are 21 or over, and that the wine is for personal use and not for resale.
Shipping containers used to deliver wine must be conspicuously labeled with the following:
“Contains Wine
For Personal Use and Not For Resale
Signature of Person Age 21 or Older Required for Delivery
Delivery to an Intoxicated Person is Forbidden by Law”
New York State wineries must require the common carrier delivering the wine to verify the identity and age of the recipient by means of photographic identification, obtain the signature of the recipient on an “acknowledgement of receipt” form provided by the Authority and refuse delivery to recipients who refuse to present proof of age.
New York State wineries must maintain records of all direct wine shipments and produce them at the request of the Liquor Authority or the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.
Continue
Courier Express Local Delivery
This long distance express service is available between 50-160 miles around the store – Order before 2:00pm for next business day delivery.
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How To Incentivize Customers To Buy Wine Online
Engaging in wine ecommerce can offer a lot of benefits for sellers. But in order to reap those benefits, you need to convince customers to buy from you.
Here are a few ideas:
- Allow customers to return online orders to your brick-and-mortar wine store.
- Provide free or flat-rate shipping whichever makes the most sense for your wine business.
- Send loyal customers exclusive coupons and invites for early access to special online sales.
- Email customers personalized recommendations for related products based on their past purchases.
- Connect with customers on your social media accounts and ask for their feedback about products, sales, and your brand in general.
- Encourage customers to place an online order for wine theyd previously bought at the store or tried in your tasting room by offering them a discount.
- Create educational content about wine for example, a how-to guide that helps novice wine drinkers choose between red wine and white wine or a blog a wine enthusiast can use to find similar wines they might like.
A quick note: the two things that tie all of these strategies together are data and research.
Collecting data about your audience and researching their specific wants and needs will help you make confident decisions about how to best attract and retain customers.
Are There Requirements For Selling Wine Online
Yes. No matter what business model you choose, its necessary to register your company and meet the legal requirements for selling alcohol online. Choose a business structure, register for taxes and then apply for licenses and permits.
If youre going to ship wine to another state, you will need a Direct-to-Consumer license. Beware that certain states, such as Utah, Alabama and Delaware, may not receive DTC wine shipments.
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Best Mass Market: Winecom
If you buy wine online, surely youre familiar with Wine.com. Its likely the largest online wine retailer, with thousands of wines from around the world, generally offered at great prices. Are there run-of-the-mill wines? Of course. But youll also discover gems hidden among its offerings as well.
Can You Bring Wine Into A Restaurant That Is Not Licensed For Liquor
Customers can bring their own wine only to restaurants with fewer than 20 seats or restaurants with liquor licenses. Restaurants with more than 20 seats must have a license or permit to sell or serve beer, wine or liquor to the public in order to allow customers to bring their own wine. A customer can bring his or her own wine into only licensed restaurants with the approval of the restaurant.
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Wait List Liver Transplants Linked To Alcoholic Hepatitis Surge During Covid
This ought to put the cheer in your Cheers!
Online services and apps for the lushes among us have made getting tipsy at home far easier, offering delivery of wines, beers and spirits and even a spirit-infused ice cream. Most will even deliver it in a matter of hours if you really cant wait.
Plus, weve got some discount codes available for first time users of these services.
And dont try anything funny, teens. To receive an alcohol delivery, you must show a valid government ID at the door to prove you are at least 21 years old. In most cases, the account holder must be the one to receive the delivery in-person. Some services charge a fee if alcohol cant be delivered and must be returned.
What Are The Benefits Of Selling Wine Online
There are many advantages of selling wine online, such as:
- Its open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- It has advanced personalization both of your site and your online store
- It has a professional image
- Theres a greater availability of handicraft products that are difficult to find elsewhere
- You can process direct sales to your customers
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How Late Can You Buy Alcohol In New York
Restaurants, bars or other businesses who sell for on-premise consumption cannot serve:
Between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.Before 12:00 p.m. noon on Sundays
Liquor stores, supermarkets and other businesses who sell for off-premise consumption cannot sell:
Between midnight and 8:00 a.m.Before 12:00 p.m. noon and after 9:00 p.m. on SundaysOn Christmas Day
Each county, however, can set their own “last call” hour at an earlier time and may have other restrictions. To view the specific closing hours for your county, check the New York State Liquor Authority website.
Examples Of Wine Ecommerce Websites
When it comes to ecommerce, your homepage is your digital welcome mat. And for higher-end merchandise like wine, first impressions are especially important.
Because the culture and tradition of wine drinking has a unique influence on the decisions of wine buyers. And wine drinkers have particular expectations about the merchants with whom they shop.
The first time a shopper visits your website, they dont necessarily have to be blown away .
But they shouldnt be completely unimpressed, either. And they absolutely cannot be disappointed or irritated by an unaesthetic design or non-user-friendly navigation.
Your wine ecommerce website should tell the story of your brand and invite customers to become part of your community.
The design of your site should demonstrate your commitment to providing an exceptional shopping experience for every shopper from wine novices to wine connoisseurs to non-wine drinkers shopping for a gift.
There should be no barriers between the customer and what theyre looking for.
For a little inspiration, here are three wine ecommerce websites built with the customer experience in mind.
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Wine Ecommerce Is Growing Rapidly
Thanks to apps like Uber Eats, Postmates, and Instacart, todays consumers can have nearly any food or drink delivered directly to their door.
But what consistently remains missing from the list of these available products is alcohol.
Now, considering the regulations they have to contend with, its understandable for the average wine retailer to be slower to adopt D2C sales.
However, this isnt to say that only a handful of wine sellers are embracing ecommerce. In fact, its quite the opposite.
Last year, the volume of DtC wine shipments totaled 5.78 million, representing a 15.3% YoY increase. And the value of these shipments came in at an all-time high of $2.69 billion in 2017.
Clearly, there are plenty of brands who recognize the potential of wine ecommerce and have begun taking advantage of this selling channel.
One of the major benefits of selling online is the ability to reach a much broader audience.
Not only that, wine ecommerce can also help companies increase the loyalty of their existing customers.
Traditional advertising for example, TV commercials, print ads, and on-site events substantially limit the number of wine drinkers you can market to. For the most part, the only people you can reach are local consumers.
But digital marketing allows wine sellers to connect with potential customers all over the world.
Just as personalized marketing can bring in new customers, it can also encourage past customers to buy from you again.
How Does Alcohol Delivery Work On The Saucey App
We partner with local retailers in your New York City neighborhood to ensure were able to deliver the beer, wine, spirits, mixers and snacks you need as quickly as possible. After you place your order on the Saucey app, a courier is dispatched to one of our partner retail locations, where they pick up your order and deliver it to you ASAP. Payment is collected at the time you place your order, and your courier will scan your ID when he or she drops off your goodies. After the order is complete, you have the option of adding a tip for your driver through the app or website.
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Can I Sell Alcohol Online In Canada
Yes, but only in certain provinces.
Similar to the policies for selling wine online in the U.S., every Canadian province has specific laws regarding which types of businesses can sell directly to consumers as well as the maximum volume that can be shipped.
It is your responsibility to ensure you abide by all regulations imposed by the province from which youre shipping as well as the province to which youre shipping.
Can Customers Bring Home A Bottle Of Wine From A Restaurant
New York state liquor laws allow for the removal of one partially consumed bottle of wine if the restaurant has the appropriate wine or liquor license, the bottle is purchased in connection with a full course meal, the patron consumes a portion of wine with the meal, the wine is securely resealed, placed in a one-time-use tamper-proof transparent bag, and a dated receipt for the full course meal and wine is provided to the patron.
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Are There Any Dry Counties In New York
New York does not have any dry counties . However, individual cities and towns are permitted to become totally dry, by forbidding any on- or off-premise alcohol sales, or partially dry by forbidding one or the other or by prohibiting only beer, wine or spirits. Currently there are a very limited number of dry towns in the state, most of which are rural areas in upstate New York.
New Yorkers Will Find It Harder To Buy Out
The days when people living in Albany or Buffalo, Rochester or Binghamton could order wine or other alcohol from a retail store anywhere in the United States and have it shipped to their door appear to be over.
It’s illegal in New York . And even though customers have been doing it for years, it’s probably always been illegal, New York Times drinks writer Eric Asimov reported.
This does not, however, apply to shipments directly from wineries or other alcohol manufacturers. Those sales have been legal in New York and elsewhere since 2005 and continue to be.
The change involving retail outlets has been coming in the past year or so, ever since major shipping companies like United Parcel Service and Federal Express began feeling pressure to adhere to the law. They’ve told retailers they will only ship wine, beer or spirits to one of the 14 states that explicitly permit such sales.
New York is not one of those states. A bill that would have relaxed New York’s prohibition on out-of-state retail alcohol sales failed to make it out of committee last year, but could be reintroduced in 2018, the New York Times reported.
At the same time, Amazon.com is ending its specialty online wine market, Amazon Wine, as of Dec. 31. It will continue to offer wine through some of its other services, like Amazon Fresh, and Prime Now.
“The decision made it a two-way street,” Crowley said.
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Easy Fast & Convenient Alcohol Delivery App
The Saucey app is available for both iOS and Android and offers the easiest, fastest way to get alcohol delivery in NYC. Create an account within minutes, pick out your favorite beer, wine, alcohol, mixers and snacks. Mere minutes after that, the whole shebang will show up at your front door. Our easy-to-use app ensures you can get the drinks you want delivered to your New York City neighborhood right when you need it. If youre more of an internet-browser type, you can always place an order on the Saucey website, too, which offers the same great selection, no order minimums, and fast delivery.
How Can I Tip My Delivery Driver
In markets where tips are accepted, the order will default to a tip that you can easy edit or change during checkout to your desired amount. You can also give the driver a cash tip if you would rather instead of adding it at checkout. Drivers appreciate your tips and are a critital part of getting your orders delivered to you.
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Here Are The Best Places To Buy Alcohol Online:
- The best place to buy wine online: Wine.com
- The best place to buy indie wine online: NakedWines.com
- The best place to buy sake online: Tippsy
- The best place to buy beer online: Craft City
- The best on-demand alcohol delivery: Drizly
- The best place to buy alcohol gifts: ReserveBar
- The best spirits subscription: Flaviar
- The best wine subscription: Winc
