# Shipping alcohol **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 9, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-alcohol/187325 "2003-07-09T21:43:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-alcohol/187325/1 "2003-07-09T21:43:03Z")
Hi, friends. I want to send a bottle of wine to a friend in another state. We are both of age, and I assume this can be done because “wine of the month” clubs do it. However, the USPS is less than helpful beyond stating that they will not provide this service. Who does? Any other regulations I need to be aware of? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Padmaraga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@Padmaraga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padmaraga)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-alcohol/187325/2 "2003-07-09T21:48:18Z")
Be careful. Many states do not allow alchohol to be shipped without a dealer’s license - I know for sure that Florida doesn’t allow it, because I wanted to send my dad a nice bottle of Oregon pinot noir, and was told I could not by the folks at the Made in Oregon store. I also saw an article on the subject not too long ago in the _Oregonian_. I don’t know exactly where to steer you for a complete listing of states that do/don’t allow it, but perhaps some creative Googling will provide answers. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-alcohol/187325/3 "2003-07-09T22:08:45Z")
From the [UPS website](http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/select/sending/customs/prohibited.html): > [@](#): > > Alcoholic beverage shipments are accepted for transportation only from certain states. Please contact your UPS international account executive to determine in which states UPS accepts such shipments. Interestingly enough they only say _from_ certain states, not _to_ certain states. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-alcohol/187325/4 "2003-07-09T22:10:39Z")
Note that that is for international shipments from the US. It says nothing about domestic shipments of alcoholic beverages, that I can find. Unhelpfully, the do not have a search option on their site. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-alcohol/187325/5 "2003-07-09T22:12:44Z")
Yes, I’m finding shippers’ sites extraordinarily unhelpful and unnavigable. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-alcohol/187325/6 "2003-07-09T22:20:01Z")
[FedEx](http://search.fedex.com/search97cgi/s97_cgi?action=View&VdkVgwKey=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Efedex%2Ecom%2Fus%2Fservices%2Fexpress%2Ftermsandconditions%2Fus%2Falcoholicbeverages%2Ehtml&DocOffset=1&DocsFound=125&QueryZip=alcoholic+beverage&Collection=us&) says: > [@](#): > > Alcoholic Beverages > FedEx will accept shipments of alcohol (beer, wine and spirits) when both the shipper and recipient are either a licensed wholesaler, licensed dealer, licensed distributor, licensed manufacturer or licensed importer. At present, we cannot ship alcohol into, out of, or within the states of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. > > Shipments from licensed entities to consumers are permitted in certain instances for wine shipments only. Shippers making direct shipments to consumers must complete a FedEx Supplemental Wine Shippers Agreement. Please call 1800GoFedEx (800-463-3339) for more information on wine shipments to consumers. **Consumer-to-consumer wine shipments are prohibited**. All U.S. alcohol shipments must be processed on an automated shipping system such as FedEx Ship Manager (formerly FedEx PowerShip). ---
**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-alcohol/187325/7 "2003-07-09T22:21:14Z")
This is one of those areas where, if you ask, they are gonna say “no.” I’m not telling you to break the law. But I will say that trifling amounts of beverages, well packed, do not invite scrutiny, it’s done all the time. It’s easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-alcohol/187325/8 "2003-07-09T22:24:54Z")
[The US Postal Service](http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub52.htm) says: > [@](#): > > 422.11 Intoxicating Liquors > Intoxicating liquors having 0.5 percent or more alcoholic content are nonmailable. This includes taxable liquors with 3.2 percent or less alcohol, as well as those obtained under a prescription or as a collector’s item. The prohibition of the mailing of intoxicating liquors is contained in federal law (18 U.S.C. 1716). Looks like you’re outta luck. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-alcohol/187325/9 "2003-07-09T23:08:22Z")
How about ordering it from one of those online wine sites & having it shipped to your friends? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-alcohol/187325/10 "2003-07-09T23:46:45Z")
**Belrix,** that may be the bet solution. Or just carry it myself next time I head that way, as a Channukah present rather than a birthday present. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-alcohol/187325/11 "2003-07-10T00:19:47Z")
On the other hand, I had absolutely no trouble sending a couple of bottles of _vinegar_ 😉 to my Aunt a couple of years ago. In fact some of the wineries can sell you styrofoam bottle packers for that purpose.