I have an idea for a new business. I live in the small state of Delaware. One day as my wife and it were eating dinner, I finished my beer and went to the fridge to get another. To my great dismay, we were out. Then, bam, it hit me like lightning. Why isn’t there any delivery services for alcohol? I would think that it would be a great idea. Instead of driving to the liquor store after you finished your last 6 pack to pick up another (and possibly kill someone on the way), just pick up the phone and order one. It would be handled just like a liquor store where proper id would be required and Sundays would be closed for business (a law in Delaware). So, am I sitting on a gold mine or are the teatoter laws stacked agenst me?
I know that up here in Québec, I can order a case of beer from my dépanneur (convenience store), 7 days a week, up until 11 PM and I don’t have to show ID (of course, if when the delivery guy shows up and it’s someone that looks younger than 18 that comes out to pay, then ID may come into play).
Why not? Spendid idea I say. Existing business in Japan, Taiwan, and China.
They have them in Florida. I’m pretty sure it’s illegal in NC (where I live) though.
Yeah, you’re a little late with the idea. In Canada there have been many “dial-a-bottle” services for years. A couple friends I had years ago ended up getting busted by the cops after they robbed one of the delivory guys. The fact that they were underage as well didn’t help them either.
In Sydney, Australia, there’s a company that is an all-purpose delivery service. For example, you can ring them and order a take-way meal from a local restaurant, a case of beer and a bottle of vodka from a liquor store, and a packet of cigarettes and some candy from a convenience store, and they will deliver the whole lot to your front door.
If i remember rightly, you pay for the meal, drink, smokes etc at retail price, and the delivery service charges about $2 for delivery plus an extra $1 or $2 for each extra stop. I’m not quite sure how they make money doing this - i think they have a deal with the restaurants whereby orders through the company attract a discount. The company itself puts out a large menu book with the menus of all participating restaurants, and you just look at that and ring the company direct with your order. Perfect for the lazy bastard like me.
Here in Maryland, a pizza place by my old house would deliver beer. My old roommate would order a six of Schlitz each day at lunchtime and be drunk by the time I got home in the evening. :rolleyes:
The have them here in Alberta too. Go by such names as
Dial-a-drink
Dial-a-bottle
Usually they are just regular intown couriers as the pick up things like take out food too.
I’m originally from Ohio and in the town of athens, which is basically just college town (Ohio Univerisity) there were several places that would deliver alcohol. Several pizza places and a bait shop, believe it or not, come to mind. I remember the pizza places having bars in them so alcohol delivery, in ohio at least, may require some sort of liquor license.
I am also pretty sure these places would not deliver harder alcohol than beer although I’m mostly a beer drinker so I’m not sure we ever tried.
HHhhuuummmmmm
Liquior Stores get robbed a lot.
Delivery guys get robbed a lot.
How can we make it even more attractive to criminals.
Actually, no. I work for a delivery cmpany here in Boone (in the mounbtains of NC), and we deliver food from all restrants AND a liquor store. Now, since I am 17, i cannot do the runs from the liquor store, but I am almost positive that the guys don’t card the customers.
I don’t know if they have beer distributors in Del. but here in Philly you can get a case of beer delivered Mon-Sat it is cheaper than six-packs. Or as Montfort said some pizza places will deliver beer, find one near you and see if they will deliver six packs for you, tell them you will tip the guy really well.
When I was in High School, my friend had a part-time job at a liquor store working as a deliver boy. How he managed this at 16 was beyond me, but we didn’t care. I would call up and order a bottle of something (trying to sound “old” by using a deep voice) knowing that he’d be the one who’d deliver it. That’s how us minors scammed our booze. 
Im in California, you can call the local market & they bring you an order. They bring food or wine, or both.
It’s not always practical though & dealing with fall down drunks for payment isn’t much fun.
When I lived in New York City in the 50s-60’s, all the local liquor stores delivered. Don’t know if they still do.
I used to work at a wine & liquor store here in Colorado, and we delivered. We didn’t make a big deal out of it, or advertise it, but on occasion someone would call and ask and we’d do it. I think we charged about $3. So you might want to call around and see if anyone does it in your area.
Kozmo.com used to deliver alcohol, in nice happy green and orange bags that often also contained Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Then, they went out of business because they were apparently failing to turn a profit. Life has been less happy ever since.
True, but the Dial-a-Bottle service here in Toronto is horrible. Service is extremely slow and costly.
Studi
Hey Montfort, I think I live near that place. I’ve been known to give the ol’ Pizza Palace a call when I’m too drunk to drive but not drunk enough to pass out…IIRC, they deliver on Sundays as well, when most liquor stores in Baltimore County are closed. I also think they will deliver harder stuff than beer.
While homegrocer.com was still operating in CA, they would deliver booze along with your groceries, but the guidelines were quite strict. Someone over 21 must sign for the delivery, no delivery would be made if you were visibly intoxicated, etc.
Bummer, because the first thing I thought of was- hey, a three-day binge without going back to the store for more!
