Wondering if you can ship that nice bottle of wine or batch of craft beer to a friend out of state? Interested to learn if UPS allows alcohol shipping?
As you probably guessed, the answer isn‘t straightforward. While UPS does permit some alcohol shipping, the regulations are complex.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know about mailing alcohol with UPS in 2024.
Overview of UPS‘s Alcohol Shipping Rules and Licensing Requirements
UPS allows alcohol shipping on a very limited, regulated basis.
You can ship wine, beer, or spirits through UPS if:
- You are a licensed, commercial alcohol retailer, distributor, or manufacturer
- You comply with all federal, state, and UPS regulations surrounding alcohol transportation
However, UPS prohibits regular consumers from shipping alcohol to one another.
Trying to mail alcohol without the proper licensing can result in legal penalties, with severity varying by state. It‘s crucial to understand the restrictions before attempting to send any alcoholic beverages through UPS.
Types of UPS-Approved Alcohol Shipments
UPS divides alcohol shipping into three categories: wine, beer, and spirits. Requirements vary slightly depending on the type of alcohol.
Shipping Wine with UPS
UPS identifies five types of legal wine shipments:
- Licensed to licensed: Between two licensed, commercial entities
- Direct to consumer – on site: Wine purchased in-person at a winery by a consumer, then shipped to an out-of-state address
- Direct to consumer – winery direct: Wine purchased online/by mail from winery, shipped to consumer
- Retailer to consumer: Wine bought from retailer (online/in-person) shipped to consumer
- Personal wine for personal use: Very limited circumstances where private citizens can ship wine
Shipments must meet extensive conditions around licensing, packaging, age verification, and volume. Get details here.
Shipping Beer with UPS
Beer shipping follows similar regulations to wine. The entity shipping alcohol must have the appropriate state and federal licensing for manufacturing, selling, and transporting for type of shipment.
UPS provides an alcohol shipping addendum outlining regulations in each state for beer and wine here.
Shipping Spirits with UPS
Mailing spirits domestically involves even more regulations through UPS. Conditions include:
- Shipper must be authorized by UPS to ship spirits based on licensing
- ADULT SIGNATURE service must be used on all spirit shipments
- Special UPS alcoholic beverage shipping label required
- Extensive packaging standards must be followed
Get specifics on requirements here.
UPS also provides a spirits addendum by state here.
Navigating State and Federal Alcohol Shipping Laws with UPS
Beyond UPS regulations, you also have to consider federal and state laws around mailing alcohol.
The 21st Amendment grants states power over alcohol sale/distribution. Thus, state laws dictate what alcohol transfers UPS legally permits.
UPS helps navigate this maze by providing:
- Wine/beer shipping addendum listing regulations by state
- Spirits addendum outlining state-by-state requirements
Consult these resources closely when arranging alcohol transportation.
Shipping Alcohol as a Gift? Legal Options for Consumers
Many consumers want to gift special bottles of alcohol to friends or family out-of-state.
Unfortunately, UPS prohibits individuals from shipping alcohol to one another. Doing so likely violates federal, state, or UPS policies.
However, some legal gift-giving options exist!
Order through alcohol producer: Purchase wine/spirits directly through vineyard, winery, distillery, or brewery. They handle licensing and shipping regulations.
Use alcohol delivery services: Companies like Drizly or Minibar Delivery simplify the process. They have proper licensing and provide wide alcohol selection. Downside – prices are often higher.
Gift card: Give a gift card to a wine/spirit retailer instead of a physical bottle. More flexible and no shipping hassles!
Additional Resources on Shipping with UPS
Still have questions on mailing alcohol or other UPS regulations? Check out these QuerySprout resources:
- Can You Drop Off UPS at Staples?
- Guide to Shipping Clothes with UPS
- UPS Statistics and Facts
- Shipping Frozen Food with UPS
Conclusion
Mailing alcohol domestically through UPS is permitted only for licensed, commercial entities adhering to federal, state, and UPS regulations. Unauthorized alcohol shipments by regular consumers violate the law.
Gifting alcohol long-distance can still be achieved legally by ordering directly through producers or using delivery services. But traditional mailing between individuals is prohibited.
I hope this guide gave you a helpful overview of requirements and guidelines for shipping wine, beer, spirits, and other alcoholic beverages with UPS here in 2024! Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions.