# alcohol delivery service. why not? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 29, 2001, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658 "2001-08-29T05:50:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aceospades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Aceospades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aceospades)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/1 "2001-08-29T05:50:25Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/2 "2001-08-29T05:58:54Z")
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). ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/3 "2001-08-29T06:10:28Z")
Why not? Spendid idea I say. Existing business in Japan, Taiwan, and China. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/4 "2001-08-29T06:12:21Z")
They have them in Florida. I’m pretty sure it’s illegal in NC (where I live) though. ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/5 "2001-08-29T06:23:30Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/6 "2001-08-29T07:42:54Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/7 "2001-08-29T13:18:14Z")
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: ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/8 "2001-08-29T13:26:35Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![duffman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@duffman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffman)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/9 "2001-08-29T13:38:15Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/10 "2001-08-29T13:42:41Z")
HHhhuuummmmmm Liquior Stores get robbed a lot. Delivery guys get robbed a lot. How can we make it even more attractive to criminals. ---
**Author:** ![Evnglion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f04885/32.png) [@Evnglion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evnglion)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/11 "2001-08-29T13:53:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cisco \* > \*\*They have them in Florida. I’m pretty sure it’s illegal in NC (where I live) though. \*\* 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. ---
**Author:** ![Briminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@Briminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briminator)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/12 "2001-08-29T13:55:39Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/13 "2001-08-29T14:31:10Z")
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. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/14 "2001-08-29T14:44:51Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/15 "2001-08-29T14:58:17Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/16 "2001-08-29T15:37:07Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/17 "2001-08-29T15:42:49Z")
[Kozmo.com](http://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. ---
**Author:** ![Studi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Studi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Studi)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/18 "2001-08-29T15:56:56Z")
> [@](#): > > In Canada there have been many “dial-a-bottle” services for years True, but the Dial-a-Bottle service here in Toronto is horrible. Service is extremely slow and costly. Studi ---
**Author:** ![Stella\_Fantasia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@Stella\_Fantasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stella_Fantasia)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/19 "2001-08-29T16:38:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658/20 "2001-08-29T18:54:36Z")
While [homegrocer.com](http://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! 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-delivery-service-why-not/78658.md?page=2)