Q: Can A Retailer Sell Wine Below Cost
No. A retailer may not sell wine, or any other alcoholic beverage, below the cost the retailer paid to the wholesaler for the alcoholic beverage. There are no exceptions to this requirement. Even in cases where a retailer sells wine below the 20% minimum markup the retailer may not sell such wine below the per bottle cost paid to the wholesaler for the wine.
Q1: What Is A Case Discount
A: A case discount is a discount offered on a case of liquor, spirits, or high gravity beer. A case of liquor or spirits is any of the following groups:
Q: How Long Must A Winery Maintain Records
A: Wineries must maintain records for three years. The records must be made available for inspection to the TABC and the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Failure to do so could lead to revocation of the license. For purposes of this requirement, records in electronic format are acceptable if they are readily available and easily accessible.
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Q: What Items May Be Sold At A Winery
A: A winery may sell its own wine in sealed bottles for consumption off the premises. A winery may also sell its own wine for consumption on the premises, and may sell, distribute, serve for the purposes of samples or tastings wine made at another domestic winery. Finally, a winery is authorized to sell items related to or incidental to the use, consumption, dispensing, or storage of wine on the licensed premises. A non-exclusive and illustrative list of such related items may be located at Tennessee Code Annotated section 57-3-204.
How To Mail Alcohol Out

When you cross state lines, the shipment of alcohol becomes more difficult. That its because you now must meet the requirements and regulations in both the state youre shipping from and the state youre shipping to.
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. Instead of shipping a bottle from your state to their state, simply find a retailer based in the state youre shipping to and order it from that retailer. That way the retailer wont need to cross state lines and only meet the rules of their states alcohol regulation board.
Do you own a brewery, distillery, or winery? Learn how to serve a food menu with 2ndKitchen.
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What Are The Dtc Liquor Shipping Laws By State
When it comes to direct-to-consumer liquor shipping laws by state, distilleries and other spirits producers must adhere to shipping laws of the destination state. It is also important to remember that just because a state allows DtC beer shipping or DtC wine shipping, it does not necessarily mean that it allows DtC liquor shipping.
For example, Ohio allows DtC beer shipping but DtC liquor shipping is currently not legal. A distillery might see that DtC beer or DtC wine shipping is allowed into a particular state, but that is not a guarantee that the same state will allow for DtC-shipped liquor.
Distilleries and spirit producers must also stay current on all federal and state laws, as they can change over time. In April 2020, Kentucky passed a statute enabling the DtC shipping of spirits. Then in 2021, Kentucky passed a bill removing a previous provision prohibiting DtC alcohol shippers from using third-party fulfillment houses to help with their shipping logistics needs.
We have outlined the basics of DtC liquor shipping and key rules that shippers must adhere to in order to stay compliant.
Is It Legal To Mail Alcohol
There isnt a universal answer to this question, as it depends on the laws and regulations in each state, city, and county that both the seller and buyer are located in.
Why is that? When Prohibition ended with the 21st Amendment, it gave states the power to regulate and set their own laws on the sale of alcoholic beverages in their states.
There are some universal rules for shipping alcohol that include:
- Alerting the carrier that a shipment contains alcohol
- Paying a special alcohol package fee
- An adult that is 21 or older must sign for the package
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Utilize communication templates to help ensure a smooth process for 1099-K recipients When it comes to the 2022 tax reporting season, ensure you are prepped for how Form 1099-K changes may affect your recipients. As part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the IRS started lowering the threshold for Form 1099-K. Previously, Third-Party
The European Commissionhas announced its long-awaited proposal for legislative changes in relation to the VAT in the Digital Age initiative. This is one of the most important developments in the history of European VAT, and affects not only European businesses, but also non-EU companies whose businesses trade with the EU. The proposal requires amending
With the entry into force of resolutions SAT-DSI-1240-2021 and SAT-DSI-1350-2022, most taxpayers in the country are now obliged to issue electronic invoices under the Online Electronic Invoice System . The latest taxpayers to join the mandatory electronic billing system are include taxpayers incorporated into the General Value Added
The results are inColoradoans will soon be able to purchase wine in more stores than ever before. Proposition 125 allows for grocery stores, convenience stores and other businesses currently licensed to sell beer to also sell wine. This follows the expansion of full-strength beer sales in grocery stores, which took effect January 1, 2019. Any
Pennsylvania Wine Shipping Law Fails Consumers And State
National Association of Wine Retailers Expect Black Market And Lost Tax Revenue if Wine Shipping Law is Not fixed
Unknown to many is that while the recent Pennsylvania alcohol reform legislation allowed direct consumer wine shipments from out of state wineries, it alsobanned consumers from having wine shipped to them from out-of-state wine stores, Internet wine retailers, wine auction houses and wine-of-the-month clubs.
The National Association of Wine Retailers is calling on Pennsylvania lawmakers to revisit its recent direct wine shipping legislation and provide for legal shipments of wine from out-of-state wine retailers. Without such a fix, Pennsylvania consumers will be banned from having all imported wines shipped directly to them.
Additionally, the ban on shipments of wine from out-of-state wine retailers will certainly lead to a black market and the loss of millions of dollars in tax revenue for the state.
The National Association of Wine Retailers proposes allowing out-of-state wine retailers to ship to Pennsylvania consumers on the same basis as out-of-state wineries are allowed. This would include the requirement that the same taxes be collected and remitted to the state and that limits be placed on how much wine could be shipped to individual consumers over the course of a year.
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Q: Is My Winery Required To Post A Pregnancy Warning
A: Yes. If a licensee sells alcoholic beverages, then the pregnancy warning sign must be posted in a prominent place, easily seen by customers. Failure to post this sign could lead to a warning from TABC staff. After the warning, the establishment can be assessed a twenty-five dollar fine per day. The required sign may be obtained from a TABC office.
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
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Digital Wine Routes Revisited
When all is said and done, direct shipping regulation is to remain subject to state legislation. Some progress has been made to allow online retailers and wineries to ship without too much of a hassle. The important thing is that the wine shipping regulations are improving across the board.
You might be required to conduct some research and most online wine clubs and shops provide detailed information about their wine shipping rules. So theres no need to worry your wine collection is in jeopardy.
How To Ship Alcohol Internationally

Importing and exporting alcohol across country borders presents even more challenges. Youll now need to meet state, city, and country laws, as well as be familiar with exporting and importing laws.
Youll need to ensure that the distributor sending the shipment has the correct permits or the US government can seize your shipment. Youll also need to be aware of taxes and duties for international beer, spirit, and wine imports.
We recommend not managing international alcohol shipping yourself instead, work with reliable third-party retailers and compliance companies to ship beer, liquor, and wine orders.
Stay on top of the latest alcohol trends and regulations
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Q4a: What Is A Closeout
A closeout is a discount offered on a brand of wine which will no longer be sold by a particular retailer. The brand being offered at closeout must have been sold by the retailer at least one hundred twenty days prior to the beginning date of a closeout sale. A closeout sale must not last longer than ninety days. The brand of wine being offered for sale in a closeout cannot be sold by the retailer for at least one year after the closeout sale is concluded.
Collectors And Collectors License Faqs
This section is intended to serve as guidance to TABC staff and industry members on common issues related to collectors and collector licenses. This document is the official opinion of the TABC until superseded by a laterdetermination of the Commission, opinion of the Attorney General of Tennessee, a decision by a court of competent jurisdiction, or an act of the General Assembly.
Batch Number A batch number alone does not make a bottle acollectible alcoholic beverage. If a product always includes a batch number,then while each bottle or specific groups of bottles would have a differentbatch number, the presence of varying batch number itself alone would not be aunique characteristic making the bottle a collectible alcoholic beverage.
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How Does Dtc Wine Shipping Work
Wine producers must adhere to the state-specific requirements when it comes to shipping DtC. Since state-by-state requirements vary, shippers should ensure that they are aware of the specific rules of the state they are shipping into. While no two states are exactly the same, shippers can base their research on the following list of general rules:
- Be licensed by the destination state
- Use approved carriers who will check IDs and collect signatures
- Verify age of purchaser and recipient
- Label boxes with notice of alcohol contents
- Abide by per person volume limits
- Agree to remit all applicable sales and excise taxes to the destination state
- File regular reports detailing all their shipments
- Only ship brand/labels that are produced or owned by the shipper
These rules and regulations may be commonly applied in states that allow DtC wine shipping but they may not always be in effect in each state. Its also important to remember that rules and regulations can be applied with varying levels of strictness. Wineries and other suppliers of wine that want to ship in a new state should consult with the right experts who can properly interpret how the rules apply to individual circumstances. Reach out to your compliance team, legal counsel or another winery to help determine what your next steps in DtC wine shipping might be.
Q1: Can A Managers Permit Be Suspended Or Revoked
A: Yes. A managers permit may be suspended or revoked by the Commission for any violation of Title 57 of Tennessee Code Annotated, and/or the rules and regulations of the TABC, including not attending required annual training, or other violations committed by the holder of the managers permit or by any person operating under the supervision of the holder of the managers permit.
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Q: What Is The Minimum Seating Requirement For A Restaurant Or Limited Restaurant
A: Restaurant and limited service restaurants are required to maintain minimum seating for forty people.
- The license fee for a restaurant is determined by the number of seats in the establishment as determined by the TABC inspection.
- The license fee for a limited service restaurant is determined by the percentage of food sold at the establishment.
Q: How Many Special Occasion Licenses May My Organization Obtain
A: A qualified organization may receive up to twelve special occasion licenses per calendar year.
However, a trade association representing at least 3 Tennessee licensed distilleries or non-manufacturer non-resident sellers may receive up to fifteen special occasion licenses per calendar year for distillery festivals.
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Is It All Good News
A 2017 New York Times article sent nation-wide ripples across the wine connoisseur community with a conclusion that only 14 states allowed for cross-state wine shipping. However, the legislators have amended some of the regulations by late 2018.
For example, direct shipping has been legal in Oklahoma since October 2018. The carriers and wineries need to follow in-state reporting procedures and pay special taxes. The New York state legislation is unique in that it requires a winerys home state to have similar direct shipping laws as the state of New York itself.
Q: May A Winery Operate A Restaurant Within Their Winery

A: Yes, a winery may operate a restaurant within their winery or otherwise serve food for on-premise consumption that compliments the serving, sampling, or consumption of wine. Such food may include prepared food or unprepared snack food. If the winery is only serving the winerys own wine at such restaurant, then the winery does not need any other TABC license.
However, if the winery wishes to also sell or serve other alcoholic beverages, such as spirits or high gravity beer, then the winery must obtain a separate and distinct restaurant license. Any winery that applies for a restaurant license must meet all eligibility requirements for such a license.
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Q: Where Must Sales Tastings Or The Consumption Of Wine On The Premises Occur
A: The sale or consumption of wine generally must occur on the premises of the winery, which means all contiguous property owned or leased by the winery. Contiguous property where such sales and consumption may occur includes contiguous fields outside of the winery building, provided such field or other outside area is owned or leased by the winery.
Q: Can Discount Cards Or Customer Loyalty Programs Be Used To Discount Liquor Spirits Or High Gravity Beer
A: No, discount cards or customer loyalty programs cannot be used for discounts on liquor, spirits, or high gravity beer. For example, a loyalty program that provides discounts based upon the customers purchasing frequency may not apply to the purchase of liquor, spirits, or high gravity beer. This prohibition does not affect the ability of manufacturers to offer otherwise allowable rebate type programs to consumers, in which the retailer is not actively involved.
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Only 14 States Legally Allow Buyers To Have Wine Shipped From Retailers In Other States
The once largely-ignored regulations for interstate wine shipping have seen their enforcement ramped up in recent years.
Mike Pomranz began covering craft beer professionally in 2006, branching out into all aspects of food and beverage before joining the Food & Wine team in 2014. He’s also a cidermaker, bar owner, and alcoholic beverage importer.
Expertise: beer and cider.
Experience: Mike Pomranz has been a part of America’s craft beer scene since touring the Pyramid Brewery in Berkeley, California, with a fake ID in 1997. He’s been writing professionally since 2002, and branched out into beer journalism in 2006 before eventually tackling all aspects of food and beverage. His work has appeared in dozens of publications including Time, People, Playboy, VinePair, Travel + Leisure, and Eater. Mike currently resides in Sheffield, England, where he owns the Cider Hole.
Alaska, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and Wyoming: Those are the only 14 states that allow wine to be shipped to consumers from out-of-state retailers, according to the Times. .
Wholesalers have been looking at this issue for quite some time, Daniel Posner, president of the National Association of Wine Retailers, told the paper. They went to state liquor authorities and said, People arent following the laws. Now its all coming to a brutal end.
Where Can Spirit Producers Ship
Currently, eight states and the District of Columbia allow DtC liquor shipping.
- District of Columbia
Its also universally required that any packages being shipped have a label clearly identifying that the box contains alcohol and that a signature of a person aged 21 years or older is required for delivery.
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Wine Retailers Seek Alcohol Shipping Compromise With 18 States
National Association of Wine Retailers Release Letter Delivered toAttorneys General and Alcohol Regulatory Chiefs ConcerningUnconstitutional and Unenforceable Wine Shipping Bans
The National Association of Wine Retailers this week delivered individual letters, and a message, to Attorneys General and the chief Alcohol Beverage regulators in 18 states. The letters articulate NAWRs legal position and its advice to NAWR members about the states unconstitutional and unenforceable bans on interstate retailer shipments of wine to consumers in those states. NAWR offers a legislative solution to the 18 states unconstitutional shipping bans and proposes legislative collaboration as a preferable alternative to NAWR members justified defiance of states attempts to enforce protectionist and unconstitutional anti-shipping laws.
Dear Attorney General:
In the interests of transparency and collaboration, Im writing on behalf of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Wine Retailers to inform you of a change in our Associations legal policy and about a new set of recommendations we are giving to our retail members across the United States regarding the direct shipment of wine.
A well-regulated system of direct shipment of wine from out-of-state wine retailers contributes to the health and safety of your residents. We look forward to the opportunity to discuss legislation like this Model Bill with you and are at your disposal to answer questions you may have.
Sincerely,