Boxes of alcoholic beverages

How to Ship Alcohol Legally Across State Lines

You may be wondering: Can I ship alcohol in the United States? The answer isn’t as simple as yes or no. The 21st amendment repealed prohibition. However, it didn’t end some of the restraints put in place for shipping and transporting alcohol across state lines.

Whether you’re a winery that’s ready to expand your markets or want to send your best friend their favorite spirits for their birthday, there is a lot you’ll need to keep in mind before you start shipping alcohol.

Let’s take a closer look at the rules you’ll need to abide by and the state-by-state breakdown.

How to Ship Alcohol

Step 1 Check the State Requirements

Every state has unique requirements for shipping alcohol across state lines. It’s not exactly easy either.

Besides state and federal laws, each carrier also has different requirements for shipping alcohol. In fact, USPS does not allow the shipment of alcohol in any of the states. To learn more about the individual requirements of some of the major carriers in the United States, check out the links below:

Step 2 Check the Shipping Requirements

Before we get into the state requirements for how to ship alcohol, here are a few things to keep in mind that apply to all the states.

  • An adult who is 21 or over needs to show proof of identification and sign for the package
  • Consumers typically pay a special alcohol shipping fee
  • Shippers need to let the carrier know that alcohol is being shipped

Can I Ship Alcohol to a Friend?

A black bottle of wine on a book

As a consumer, you can’t legally ship your favorite alcoholic beverages to a friend. However, you may purchase spirits or wine from a licensed seller who’s partnered with a certified carrier and send it to them. We recommend checking the state requirements where they reside and ensuring that type of alcohol can be legally shipped to that jurisdiction. If it can, we recommend giving your friends a heads up so they can show their ID and sign for their package.

Don’t let these laws discourage you! Although learning how to ship alcohol comes with unique challenges, it’s not impossible to get refreshing beer from a beer shipper delivered directly to your door. This is good news for any alcohol business looking to put their drinks in the hands of others.

Let’s take a closer look at the state-by-state requirements for how to ship alcohol.


Alcohol Shipping Requirements Per State

Alabama

Permit Required: Ala. Code §28-3A-6.1
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: Wine shippers can ship up to 12 bottles of wine to any Alabama resident within 12 months.

Alaska

Permit Required: Alaska Stat. §04.11.140
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: Wine can be shipped from legally licensed wineries.
Wine shippers can ship up to 5 gallons of wine to Alaska residents.

Arizona

Permit Required: Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §4-203
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: To ship wine, you’ll need a direct shipment license.

Arkansas

Permit Required: Ark. Stat. Ann. §3-5-1701 et seq.
Beer, Wine, Spirits may be shipped from retail stores in Arkansas only.
Details: Residents will need to be present during delivery.

California

Permit Required: Cal. Business & Professions Code §23661.3
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: For shipping alcohol across state lines, wine shippers will need a direct shipment license.

Colorado

Permit Required: Colo. Rev. Stat. §44-3-104
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: Wine can be shipped from legally licensed wineries.

Connecticut

Permit Required: Conn. Gen. Stat. §30-16
Wine, Mead, Cider, Beer, Spirits
Details: Can legally be shipped by shippers who have a farm winery permit.

Delaware

Permit Required: Del. Code Ann. tit. 4, §526
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: Can be shipped by a company with a direct shipper license.

Florida

Permit Required: Fla. Stat. §561.545
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: Any alcoholic beverage can be shipped from licensed wholesalers or exporters.

Georgia

Permit Required: Ga. Code §3-6-30 et
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: Wine must be shipped with a special shipper license.

Hawaii

Permit Required: Hawaii Rev. Stat. §281-33.1
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: Shipping alcohol across state lines is possible under a permit for a single shipment.

Idaho

Permit Required: Idaho Code §23-1309A
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: A direct shipper permit is required.

Illinois

Permit Required: Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 235, §5/5-1
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: A winery shipping license is required.

Indiana

Permit Required: Permit required: Ind. Code §7.1-3-26-1 et seq.
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: A direct wine seller’s permit is required.

Iowa

Permit Required: Permit required: Iowa Code §123.56
Native Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: A Class A permit is required.

Kansas

Permit Required: Permit required: Kan. Stat. Ann. §41-350
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: You’ll need a special order shipper license.

Kentucky

Permit Required: Permit required: Ky. Rev. Stat. §243.027 et seq. Ky. Rev. Stat. §244.165
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: All alcoholic beverages can be shipped with a direct shipper license.

Louisiana

Permit Required: Permit required: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §26:85
Wine, Beer, Spirits

Maine

Permit Required: Permit required: Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 28-A, §1403-A
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: A wine direct shipper license is required.

Maryland

Permit Required: Permit required: Md. Alcoholic Beverages Code Ann. §2-142 et seq.
Wine, Pomace Brandy, Spirits
Details: Both require a direct wine shipper license.

Massachusetts

Permit Required: Permit required: Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 138, §19F
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: A direct wine shipper license is required.

Michigan

Permit Required: Permit required: Mich. Comp. Laws §436.1203
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: A direct wine shipper license is required.

Minnesota

Permit Required: Permit required: Minn. Stat. §340A.417 (a) Notwithstanding §297G.07,
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: Click here to see a full list of requirements for how to ship alcohol.

Mississippi

Permit Required: Permit required: Miss. Code Ann. §67-1-41
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: For a full list of requirements, click here.

Missouri

Permit Required: Permit required: Mo. Rev. Stat. §311.185
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: A wine direct shipper license is required.

Montana

Permit Required: Permit required: Mont. Code Ann. §16-4-1101 et seq.
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: For shipping alcohol across state lines, a direct shipment endorsement is required.

Nebraska

Permit Required: Permit required: Neb. Rev. Stat. §53-123.15
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: All alcohol shipments require a manufacturer’s direct sales shipping license.

Nevada

Permit Required: Permit required: Nev. Rev. Stat. §369.464
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: Click here to see a full list of requirements for how to ship alcohol.

New Hampshire

Permit Required: Permit required: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §178:27
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: All alcohol requires a direct shipper permit.

New Jersey

Permit Required: Permit required: N.J. Rev. Stat. §33:1-10
Wine, Mead, Cider, Beer, Spirits
Details: All shipments require a winery license.

New Mexico

Permit Required: Permit required: N.M. Stat. Ann. §60-6A-11
Wine, Cider, Beer, Spirits
Details: For a full list of requirements, click here.

New York

Permit Required: Permit required: N.Y. Alcoholic Beverage Control Law §79-c
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: A direct shipper license is required.

North Carolina

Permit Required: Permit required: N.C. Gen. Stat. §18B-109
Wine, Malt Beverages, Spirits
Details: Click here to see a full list of requirements for how to ship alcohol.

North Dakota

Permit Required: Permit required: N.D. Cent. Code §5-01-16
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: Shippers require a direct shipper license.

Ohio

Permit Required: Permit required: Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §4303.232
Wine, Beer, Spirits

Oklahoma

Permit Required: Permit required: Okla. Stat. tit. 37A, §3-106
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: A direct wine shipper license is required for shipping alcohol across state lines.

Oregon

Permit Required: Permit required: Or. Rev. Stat. §471.223
Wine, Cider, Beer, Spirits
Details: Click here to see a full list of requirements for how to ship alcohol.

Pennsylvania

Permit Required: Permit required: Pa. Stat. tit. 47, §4-488
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: A direct wine shipper license is required.

Rhode Island

Permit Required: Permit required: R.I. Gen. Laws §3-4-8
Wine, Cider, Malt Beverages, Spirits
Details: Alcohol can be shipped to residents of Rhode Island if it is purchased in Rhode Island.
Consumers must be home to accept the package.
For a full list, click here.

South Carolina

Permit Required: Permit required: S.C. Code Ann. §61-4-720
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: For a full list, click here.

South Dakota

Permit Required: Permit required: S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §35-12B-1 et seq.
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: Shipping wine requires a direct shipper license.

Tennessee

Permit Required: Permit required: Tenn. Code Ann. §57-3-217
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: Requires a direct shipper license.

Texas

Permit Required: Permit required: Tex. Alcoholic Beverage Code Ann. §16.09
Wine, Beer, Spirits

Utah

Permit Required: Permit required: Utah Code Ann. §32B-2-701 et seq.
Wine Subscription, Beer, Spirits
Details: Click here to see a full list of requirements for how to ship alcohol.

Vermont

Permit Required: Permit required: Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 7, §277
Wine, Malt Beverages, Spirits
Details: Permits are required for shipping alcohol across state lines.

Virginia

Permit Required: Permit required: Va. Code §4.1-209.1
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: Shippers require a wine or beer shippers license.

Washington

Permit Required: Permit required: Wash. Rev. Code §66.20.360 et seq.
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: A permit is required.

West Virginia

Permit Required: Permit required: W. Va. Code §11-16-6e
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: For a full list of requirements, click here.

Wisconsin

Permit Required: Permit required: Wis. Stat. §125.535
Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: A permit is required.

Wyoming

Permit Required: Permit required: Wyo. Stat. §12-2-204
Wine, Beer, Spirits


As you can see, shipping alcohol across state lines will require you to be mindful of the particular laws of each state involved in the shipping process. State laws and regulations apply to wineries, breweries, and even the individual who wants to send that special gift to a friend or family member. The bottom line is you need to know how to ship alcohol legally to avoid penalties or heavy fines.

We recommend visiting each state’s website for more information on shipping alcohol legally. You can go to the NCSL website for in-depth explanations. If you still have questions, call us at 866-447-4737, and our experts will be happy to assist you.