Does USPS ship alcohol? (What to know!)
Have you ever thought about giving someone a good bottle of wine? But what exactly are the rules and regulations for shipping alcohol?
Can you ship alcohol with USPS? Or do you have to go through a private company like Fedex or UPS? We looked into it and here’s what we found…
Does USPS ship alcohol?
USPS will not ship alcohol except in limited circumstances. The U.S. Postal Service has a domestic shipping bans and restrictions website page where you can find precise information on what you can ship (and how). Alcohol is strictly restricted, but not prohibited.
This article explains how to ship alcohol: which shipping companies allow it, how you are legally required to ship it, and what you must avoid.
Is it illegal to ship alcohol through USPS?
You’ll notice on the USPS Domestic Prohibited Items list that there is no alcohol there.what are you would be considered prohibited (Prohibited) are airbags, ammunition, explosives, gasoline, and marijuana (although Hemp CVD (non-intoxicating) is permitted but limited).
Alcoholic beverages are listed under “Restrictions”.Here it states “Beer, wine and spirits may not be sent by mail except in limited circumstances.” By clicking on the link to Mailability you will find your exact list were able Shipping via USPS and items you cannot ship.
You cannot ship:
- Any intoxicating liquor containing more than 0.5% alcohol
- Promotional materials that solicit or induce the mailing of intoxication
You can ship:
- Cold medicine
- cooking wine
- Mouthwash
- Alcohol sent between employees of federal or state agencies who have official use of the alcohol, such as for testing purposes
It’s important to note that the USPS even bans packaging with alcohol labels. You must remove all logos and labels before using the packaging.
It is also important to note that under USPS International Shipping Restrictions, the shipping of alcohol is complete ban.
What happens if you ship alcohol through USPS?
If you ship alcohol through USPS and your shipment does not meet the criteria for shipping alcohol, your package will be marked as “Unmailable”. Packages will be rejected and will not be returned to the postal system.
If your shipment contains alcohol or is packaged in a box with an alcohol logo, sticker, or label, the package will be returned to you (provided you provide a sender’s address).
Can you ship alcohol via UPS?
UPS is a private carrier and therefore operates under different restrictions than USPS. United Parcel Service only allows you to ship alcohol in certain circumstances.
- You must have a UPS account
- You must have an alcohol shipping agreement with UPS
- You must have a federal and state legal license to ship alcohol
- You must be familiar with and comply with state laws pertaining to the transportation of alcohol – this means the sender state and the recipient state
- You must use UPS approved packaging
- You must clearly label your shipment according to UPS (and destination state) guidelines
- Your goods will not be delivered to anyone under the age of 21
- Your shipment requires a signature upon delivery
- The recipient of the package must provide identification
USP has a handy information page on their website where you can find everything you need to know about shipping alcohol with them. The “Who Can Ship Wine?” page, for example, will tell you how to become an approved wine shipper, but it’s not a quick process.
Shipping alcohol overseas has become more complicated. The USPS has published a guide for international alcohol shipments for those interested in obtaining a wine export license.
Can you ship alcohol via FedEx
The multinational shipping company FedEx again has different rules. They point out that individual consumers simply cannot ship alcohol through them. They will only ship alcohol for businesses that have the appropriate alcohol license.
Approved businesses must be aware of individual state regulations regarding the delivery of wine directly to customers. These regulations vary by state. Approved businesses must also enter into a FedEx Liquor Shipping Agreement.
If you’re interested in becoming an approved business, FedEx has posted all the information you need on its How to Become a FedEx Authorized Alcohol Shipper page.
You will notice that the authorization process requires an interview with a FedEx account manager.
If you ship alcohol through FedEx without complying with these regulations, FedEx reserves the right to stop the shipment and return the shipment to you (at your expense) or destroy the shipment.
FedEx will also not ship alcohol-based shipments if the recipient is under the age of 21, unable to present required identification, or intoxicated. Again, the goods will be returned to you at your expense.
How do you ship alcohol to friends?
The easiest way to ship alcohol to friends or family is to buy your wine and have a licensed wine store or winery deliver it for you.
Businesses licensed to transport alcohol will be aware of the very complex applicable federal, state and local laws. When you buy wine, be sure to clarify the destination of the wine with the seller. Some states do not allow the delivery of alcohol to individuals.
The only other way to ship alcohol (if you are not a business) is to comply with UPS regulations and become an approved wine shipper. Your agreement document will contain information about the winery and retailer drop shipping status. Once approved, you can choose from a range of UPS shipping services.
If you want to ship alcohol to friends or family overseas, your best bet is to buy wine online and have a merchant ship it for you. This way, you can avoid navigating through international shipping regulations and restrictions and necessary customs forms.
Want to learn more about USPS? Check out our related posts to find out if USPS repurchases unused stamps, does USPS require IDs, and are USPS tracking numbers fake?
in conclusion..
If you want to ship wine within the United States, you must know (and follow) your sender and recipient state laws to receive alcohol.
This can complicate the gift of wine. You can’t ship with USPS at all, but you can organize shipping with FedEx or UPS — but it’s not easy.
If you’re shipping a lot of wine, it might be worthwhile to sign up for an account and get a license.
Otherwise, consider buying alcohol online and letting the merchant take care of your delivery.
