{"id":352486,"date":"2016-04-04T10:42:01","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/consumer\/consumer-transactions\/buying-beer-wine-and-spirits-online.html"},"modified":"2024-01-17T11:37:03","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T16:37:03","slug":"buying-beer-wine-and-spirits-online","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/consumer-transactions\/buying-beer-wine-and-spirits-online.html","title":{"rendered":"Buying Beer, Wine, and Spirits Online"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Buying Beer, Wine, and Spirits Online<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Hannah Hilst<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Buying alcohol online is legal in most U.S. states, but laws vary by location. State regulations may limit who can sell alcohol online and the quantity you can purchase. Many require ID verification upon delivery. Online alcohol sales must also comply with legal age laws — buyers must be at least 21 years old. Some states prohibit direct shipments, requiring pickup at designated locations. Federal law bars USPS from shipping alcohol, but private carriers like FedEx and UPS can deliver it with age verification. Always check local laws before purchasing.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Buying alcohol at a retail store or restaurant is a unique purchase. You and the business must follow alcohol sales laws, such as showing your driver’s license or ID card to prove your age. Federal and state regulations also set distinct rules for buying alcohol online.<\/p>\n

Online orders of alcohol differ from brick-and-mortar purchases in a few ways. Know what to expect before checking out your online shopping cart with a winery, brewery, or distributor.<\/p>\n

Note that this article explains laws about buying beer, wine, and spirits for personal use. Commercial alcohol orders and deliveries involve different legal considerations.<\/p>\n

Is Buying Alcohol Online Legal?<\/h2>\n

Online liquor sales are legal in most of the United States but not everywhere. Some state and local laws ban online alcohol deliveries.<\/p>\n

The rules for buying alcohol in person depend on where you live or purchase it; the same applies to online orders. Shipping alcohol nationwide is complex because these laws vary in each area.<\/p>\n

Why States Have Different Alcohol Laws<\/h2>\n

When federal Prohibition ended in the 1930s, states were free to create their own liquor laws. As a result, the U.S. has a patchwork of different alcohol laws. Some states decided to ban the sale of alcohol on Sundays or in regular grocery stores. Other states set up government-run liquor stores to closely tax and control alcohol sales.<\/p>\n

States\u00a0updated their laws as businesses\u00a0wanted to sell alcohol online. Online sales became illegal in some \u201cno-ship” states.\u00a0Alabama had one of the country’s last statewide bans on online consumer alcohol deliveries, but its Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC)\u00a0repealed it in 2021<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Common State Laws for Online Alcohol Sales<\/h2>\n

State laws often impose alcohol regulations like the following:<\/p>\n