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 The 21st amendment repealed prohibition.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?
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-6.1Wine,
Details: Wine shippers can ship up to 12 bottles of wine to any Alabama resident within 12 months.
Alaska
Permit Required: Alaska Stat. §04.11.140Wine,
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. §4-203Wine,
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 §23661.3Wine,
Details: For shipping alcohol across state lines, wine shippers will need a direct shipment license.
Colorado
Permit Required: Colo. Rev. Stat. §44-3-104Wine, Beer,
Details: Wine can be shipped from legally licensed wineries.
Connecticut
Permit Required: Conn. Gen. Stat. §30-16Wine, Mead, Cider,
Details: Can legally be shipped by shippers who have a farm winery permit.
Delaware
Permit Required: Del. Code Ann. tit. 4, §526Wine, Beer,
Details: Can be shipped by a company with a direct shipper license.
Florida
Permit Required: Fla. Stat. §561.545Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: Any alcoholic beverage can be shipped from licensed wholesalers or exporters.
Georgia
Permit Required: Ga. Code §3-6-30 etWine,
Details: Wine must be shipped with a special shipper license.
Hawaii
Permit Required: Hawaii Rev. Stat. §281-33.1Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: Shipping alcohol across state lines is possible under a permit for a single shipment.
Idaho
Permit Required: Idaho Code §23-1309AWine,
Details: A direct shipper permit is required.
Illinois
Permit Required: Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 235, §5/5-1Wine,
Details: A winery shipping license is required.
Indiana
Permit Required: Permit required: Ind. Code §7.1-3-26-1 et seq.Wine,
Details: A direct wine seller’s permit is required.
Iowa
Permit Required: Permit required: Iowa Code §123.56Native Wine,
Details: A Class A permit is required.
Kansas
Permit Required: Permit required: Kan. Stat. Ann. §41-350Wine,
Details: You’ll need a special order shipper license.
Kentucky
Permit Required: Permit required: Ky. Rev. Stat. §243.027 et seq. Ky. Rev. Stat. §244.165Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: All alcoholic beverages can be shipped with a direct shipper license.
Louisiana
Permit Required: Permit required: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §26:85Wine,
Maine
Permit Required: Permit required: Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 28-A, §1403-AWine,
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,
Details: Both require a direct wine shipper license.
Massachusetts
Permit Required: Permit required: Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 138, §19FWine,
Details: A direct wine shipper license is required.
Michigan
Permit Required: Permit required: Mich. Comp. Laws §436.1203Wine,
Details: A direct wine shipper license is required.
Minnesota
Permit Required: Permit required: Minn. Stat. §340A.417 (a) Notwithstanding §297G.07,Wine,
Details: Click here to see a full list of requirements for how to ship alcohol.
Mississippi
Permit Required: Permit required: Miss. Code Ann. §67-1-41Wine,
Details: For a full list of requirements, click here.
Missouri
Permit Required: Permit required: Mo. Rev. Stat. §311.185Wine,
Details: A wine direct shipper license is required.
Montana
Permit Required: Permit required: Mont. Code Ann. §16-4-1101 et seq.Wine,
Details: For shipping alcohol across state lines, a direct shipment endorsement is required.
Nebraska
Permit Required: Permit required: Neb. Rev. Stat. §53-123.15Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: All alcohol shipments require a manufacturer’s direct sales shipping license.
Nevada
Permit Required: Permit required: Nev. Rev. Stat. §369.464Wine,
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. §178:27Wine, Beer, Spirits
Details: All alcohol requires a direct shipper permit.
New Jersey
Permit Required: Permit required: N.J. Rev. Stat. §33:1-10Wine, Mead, Cider,
Details: All shipments require a winery license.
New Mexico
Permit Required: Permit required: N.M. Stat. Ann. §60-6A-11Wine, Cider,
Details: For a full list of requirements, click here.
New York
Permit Required: Permit required: N.Y. Alcoholic Beverage Control Law §79-cWine,
Details: A direct shipper license is required.
North Carolina
Permit Required: Permit required: N.C. Gen. Stat. §18B-109Wine, Malt Beverages,
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 §5-01-16Wine, Beer,
Details: Shippers require a direct shipper license.
Ohio
Permit Required: Permit required: Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §4303.232Wine, Beer,
Oklahoma
Permit Required: Permit required: Okla. Stat. tit. 37A, §3-106Wine,
Details: A direct wine shipper license is required for shipping alcohol across state lines.
Oregon
Permit Required: Permit required: Or. Rev. Stat. §471.223Wine, Cider,
Details: Click here to see a full list of requirements for how to ship alcohol.
Pennsylvania
Permit Required: Permit required: Pa. Stat. tit. 47, §4-488Wine,
Details: A direct wine shipper license is required.
Rhode Island
Permit Required: Permit required: R.I. Gen. Laws §3-4-8Wine, Cider, Malt Beverages,
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. §61-4-720Wine, Beer,
Details: For a full list, click here.
South Dakota
Permit Required: Permit required: S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §35-12B-1 et seq.Wine,
Details: Shipping wine requires a direct shipper license.
Tennessee
Permit Required: Permit required: Tenn. Code Ann. §57-3-217Wine,
Details: Requires a direct shipper license.
Texas
Permit Required: Permit required: Tex. Alcoholic Beverage Code Ann. §16.09Wine,
Utah
Permit Required: Permit required: Utah Code Ann. §32B-2-701 et seq.Wine Subscription,
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, §277Wine, Malt Beverages,
Details: Permits are required for shipping alcohol across state lines.
Virginia
Permit Required: Permit required: Va. Code §4.1-209.1Wine, Beer,
Details: Shippers require a wine or beer shippers license.
Washington
Permit Required: Permit required: Wash. Rev. Code §66.20.360 et seq.Wine,
Details: A permit is required.
West Virginia
Permit Required: Permit required: W. Va. Code §11-16-6eWine,
Details: For a full list of requirements, click here.
Wisconsin
Permit Required: Permit required: Wis. Stat. §125.535Wine,
Details: A permit is required.
Wyoming
Permit Required: Permit required: Wyo. Stat. §12-2-204Wine,
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.