Is It Legal To Ship Alcohol
It is technically legal to ship alcohol in the United States. However, that does not mean that it is easy. The only people who can legally ship alcohol are companies who are licensed to sell alcohol to parties in states that permit shipments.
So, if you are not licensed to ship alcohol, then you will not be able to do so. You can face a penalty for shipping alcohol if you try to do so without the proper license.
Simplify Shipping Wine With Beautiful Prepackaged Bottles And Baskets
From selecting the right bottle to researching wine shipping laws and regulations, it may be easier to just go with an online retailer who will take care of shipping your gift directly. Online retailers, like Hickory Farms, have an entire section specifically dedicated to wine gifts. From nicely packaged gift baskets of sparkling wines and high-end still bottles to trios of wines, tasting sets, and even wines sold with specialty snacks and treats, these beautifully packaged gifts simplify the wine shipping and gift giving process. Not only that, but these wine gifts are temperature controlled and beautifully packaged with a fantastic wine bottle of or set of wines.
There are all kinds of sets like Champagne with sweets, Napa Valley tasting sets, and wine and cheese charcuterie board sets. You can also shop through options sorted by specific occasionsbirthday, Thanksgiving, New Years, wedding, congratulations, thank you, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, and more.
If Youre Thinking About Starting A Business Wine Not
Getting wine from your warehouse to customers on time is a must for every wine business owner. Customers love a business that meets their shipping expectations, especially for foods and drinks.
With the right packaging, legal documentation, and focus on quality, you can become an unstoppable eCommerce wine machine. Refer back to this wine shipping guide whenever you need to refresh yourself on the basics.
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How To Import Alcohol
When it comes to importing alcohol, there are steps that need to be taken in order to receive products legally and successfully.
How To Ship Wine To A Friend
Wine makes a great gift, partly because of how many wine names and wine varietals are available. If you want to learn how to ship wine to a friend, itâs easier than you may think.
Check out these tips on how to get it done:
- Check your state laws and those of your friend . Alcohol shipments are carefully regulated, whether youâre sending within the same state or out of state. Review the alcohol shipping laws on your stateâs tax or commerce website to ensure youâre adhering to all laws.
- Select a shipping company. Since you canât use USPS, it comes down to FedEx or UPS. Both offer competitive ground shipping rates and are capable of shipping fragile items like wine bottles.
- If possible, ship in late spring or early fall. Temperatures during these seasons are milder, which helps prevent oxidized wine. Your wine wonât get frozen or burst open, ensuring your friend will be quite happy when it arrives!
- Package the wine safely and effectively. Using the right packaging materials is essential when shipping wine to a friend. Whether you only need a single molded fiber tray or a box that fits two or more bottles, get what is sufficient for your shipment. Check that the box seals well, there are no old labels on it, and that the flaps are double taped.
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Can I Ship A Bottle Of Wine Through Usps
There is no doubt that you can, despite what some may think. Liquor can be shipped from one state to another, or from one state to another, if a person or retailer possesses the proper license. Alcohol cannot be sent by any unlicensed individual without proper licenses. Individuals are prohibited by USPS from shipping alcohol.
Who Can Ship Wine
UPS only accepts packages containing wine from shippers who are licensed under applicable law and who have signed and entered into a contract with UPS for the transportation of wine.
Note: UPS provides service for other alcoholic beverages on a contract basis only. For shipments containing beer or spirits, shippers must enter into an approved UPS agreement for the transportation of beer or spirits as applicable, must be licensed and authorized under applicable law to ship beer and spirits. UPS accepts shipments of beer or spirits only among and between selected states. For more information visit How To Ship Beer and How To Ship Spirits pages.
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How To Ship Wine As A Gift
A great bottle of wine always makes for a fun gift to give family and friends to celebrate a special occasion, or even just because. With hundreds of varietals to choose from, a bottle of wine can be enjoyed at home on its own or paired with a favorite meal. It doesnt matter if your gift recipient is across town or across the country, help them celebrate by shipping wine directly to their doorstep.
If youre wondering how to ship wine as a gift for a friend, family member, or loved one, this guide will provide you with some helpful considerations to keep in mind to make sure your gift arrives intact and ready to be enjoyed!
How Do I Send Wine To Canada As A Gift
Technically, you could buy a bottle of Wine, package it yourself, and ship it to Canada on your own. But you might run into local alcohol delivery laws, youll certainly wait for the package to clear customs, and your recipient might have to pay duty fees on the other end. Embarrassing! Theres an easier way right at your fingertips. Just browse our catalog for Canada, add their favorite brand of Wine to your cart, checkout, and youre done! DrinkableGifts.com has managers in each region waiting to deliver your Wine gift right to your recipients door in Canada.
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Take Weather Into Consideration
Generally, wine is best preserved when kept at under 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which is great news for those looking to ship wine as a gift in the cooler months. If youre shipping wine in the middle of summer, there are plenty of solutions for protecting your bottle from extreme heat. For example, an insulated wine bottle carrier will keep your bottle at an optimum temperature, as well as add another layer of protection throughout shipment.
Foam Chips Or Shredded Paper
Foam chips or gift shred can be used to add a layer of cushioning around the wine bottle, reducing the risk of breakage during shipping. Inexpensive packaging alternatives include foam and paper. These cushioning options are simple to use and do not require any special packaging protocol. If youre sending wine as a gift, Paper Mart offers more than 100 shredded paper fillers that can be used to elevate a gift basket from amateur to professional.
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Use Packaging Best Practices
If they arenât firmly sealed in a box, wine bottles are at risk of breaking the box open, getting cracked, and leaking. While these events arenât likely, itâs always best to pack wine to prevent each of them.
You can use polystyrene foam, molded fiber inserts, or any firm, supportive material that doesnât take up much space. Cardboard alone wonât do the trick because it can easily be bent or torn, and plastic or paper sheeting isnât sufficient enough as padding between bottles.
You can also consult eCommerce shipping companiesâ websites for their recommendations on how to ship a bottle of wine. As businesses that have shipped billions of packages every year, they know what works and what doesnât. Using proven shipping materials and strategies will save you significant time and money.
Selecting A Delivery Date
We offer date-specific deliveries for most items purchased. A calendar with all available delivery dates will be presented to you after you enter your shipping address. You can select a delivery date up to six months out by clicking on the calendar arrow to move forward months. Note that we cannot select a specific block of time for your delivery, only a specific date. The carrier will make three delivery attempts before the item is returned to our warehouse.
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Requirements For Importing Wine Bottles
For you to import wine you have to undergo several key steps before youre legitimate and authorized.
Mostly youll be dealing with paperwork. Here is a rundown of the required permits and licenses you have to have in order in order to receive imported wines:
Employer Identification number
Customs Continuous Bond
Understand your terms of sale in each agreement and transaction. Understanding your various specific individual responsibilities when negotiating terms of sale with suppliers is critical to having success as an importer of foreign goods.
If you want to pursue this, you have to be able to figure out all your duties and taxes exactly.
How To Ship Homemade Wine To My Friend
I know USPS can get me into big trouble so I won’t even go there.
UPS, FedEx and DSL all have heavy heavy restrictions that make sending it impossible for me.
Do you know of a way to get a small bottle of wine to my friend? She lives a few states over and we’re both in the south eastern US.
Oops, sorry, I thought I was signed in.This is my question, thanks!
i would call and ask the post office. i think if u dont use glass and dont list it as alcohol u could get it thru.
gl tell me what u find.
Looks like USPS dosnt do it for individuals. It is still illegal in 4 or 5 states. Looking at prices to mail 2 bottles using the other carriers you may as well send them a check to buy some. LOLIt looked pretty expensive.
I ship my wine to my dad in the nursing home. I use lots of packing material, start with a bag in the box in case the whole shipment breaks. Egg cartons work well to line the box-bubble wrap each bottle-top the box with more egg cartons so they don’t shift, and if the box gets smashed you have a better chance of the bottles surviving-if they don’t survive, you at least have lots of egg cartons to soak up the mess and the post office is none the wiser. lol. . I ship 2nd day air, priority flat rate box with delivery confirmation. Good luck…when they ask is their anything liquid or fragile, just say olive oil…and smile nicely. gl!
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Shipping Beer Liquor And Wine With Fedex
allowsFedEx Delivery Resources
FedEx alcohol shipment rules include:
- You have a FedEx account number
- You have signed an alcohol shipping agreement contact with FedEx through your account manager
- You must use inner packaging of EPS foam or molded fiber tray
- You must package the alcohol in the center of the shipment, away from the packages sides
- Your package must be deemed sturdy by FedEx
- You must clearly label the shipment and meet FedEx guidelines
- You must clearly label the package as containing alcohol
- You must receive a signature upon delivery from an adult that is 21 or older
In A Time Crunch And Need Your Wine Delivered Yesterday
We cant defy the laws of time, but we can make sure that your gift arrives as soon as possible, often within the same day of your order! Our express, overnight wine delivery option is perfect for those last-minute gifts. Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Yearswe work year-round and always have your express wine delivery needs covered! Select the expedited delivery options when you order and well take care of the rest!
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Shipping Beer Liquor And Wine With Ups
UPS allows direct-to-consumer alcohol shipment, with a number of strict rules. You can find all the UPS rules and regulations on the UPS Wine & Alcoholic Beverage Program page.
UPS alcohol shipment rules include:
- You have a UPS account number
- You have signed an alcohol shipping agreement contact with UPS
- You have a federal license to ship alcohol
- You have the correct permits to ship alcohol in the states your sending to
- You must follow the guidelines set in both the sending and receivers state
- You must use inner packaging of EPS foam or molded fiber tray
- You must package the alcohol in the center of the shipment, away from the packages 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
- You must receive a signature upon delivery from an adult that is 21 or older
Can You Send Wine In The Mail
Yes, you can send wine in the mail. As long as youâre a licensed manufacturer or dealer, and the bottles are packaged well, youâve met the basic requirements.
Shipping services require those mailing wine to provide proof of business licensing and shipping licensing. Companies like FedEx and UPS require those shipping alcohol to complete an approval process before sending spirits via parcel.
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Can You Ship Wine Through Usps
Times have changed since 1909, except for Publication 52 of the US postal code restricting the shipment of alcohol. Yes, alcohol is technically a restricted item, not a prohibited item. However, the exception to shipping alcohol is limited to cold remedies and mouthwash, and between federal and state agencies.
The USPS has specifically prohibited five items from domestic shipping:
- Airbags
- Certain flammable items
Anyone who has questions about which items may or may not be shipped using the USPS should contact their local post office. And, while drinking wine may not be shipped USPS, there is one unique exception the service may indeed carry cooking wine.
How To Ship Wine Through Usps
USPS doesnât ship any alcoholic beverages, whether internationally or domestically. USPSâ freedom to ship alcohol may change in the future, though.
US state representatives introduced a bill in May 2021 called the USPS Shipping Equity Act which would allow the governmentâs postal service to ship alcohol. The representatives say the only reason USPS isnât doing so now is because of a Prohibition-Era law that still stands.
Until the laws change, eCommerce business owners must use private companies to deliver their drinks.
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Check Your Recipients State Laws For Wine Delivery
Wine shipping laws vary by state: most states allow wine retailers or liquor stores to make direct-to-consumer wine shipments to a home address, however there are some exceptions depending on the state your recipient lives in. These exceptions limit the type and quantity of alcohol that can be shipped. And, just as if purchasing wine at a physical store, the recipient who signs for the package must be at least 21 years old.
Technically speaking, states dont allow two individual consumers to ship wine to one another. Their laws and restrictions do, however, allow individuals who are licensed wine shippers in the state of origin, or the state where the wine was purchased, to ship wine. Texas is one of those states, so if youre looking to ship wine to Texas, your options include obtaining a wine shipping license, or using a third-party licensed wine shipper to get that bottle to your recipient.
Other states are even more restrictive For example, Alabama completely prohibits alcohol delivery. Mississippi requires the consumer to make the purchase themselves physically at a winery and have the shipment sent to a package retailer. In Utah, wine subscription programs must be delivered to a state store or package agency. On the other hand, shipping wine to Florida is a lot easier for those who are purchasing their gift from retailers, as they loosened their restrictions on wine shipping in June 2019.
From The Time You Ship My Package How Long Does It Take To Arrive
Normal transit times for Ground service :
1-2 business days: CT, DC, DE, MA, ME, MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV 2-3 business days: GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MN, MO, NC, SC, TN, WI3-4 business days: AL, AR, FL, KS, LA, MS, ND, NE, OK, SD 4-5 business days: CO, MT, TX, UT, WY5-6 business days: AZ, CA, ID, NM, NV, OR, WA
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