9th Sep 2022

A Guide To The Alcohol Laws By State

  • Alcohol Laws
  • Shipping Alcohol
A Guide To The Alcohol Laws By State

Here is an efficient breakdown of the alcohol laws by state. Since you're here, you've probably noticed that alcohol laws change from state to state, which can be confusing. Let's get technical and break down the alcohol laws by state.

Please note that laws change all the time. Do not use this as your only source. Visit your state's page to learn more about its alcohol shipping laws.

Everything matters when it comes to wine, beer, or spirit shipping. For example, convenience stores like grocery stores and liquor stores have different laws than wineries. The sale of alcohol for certain alcoholic beverages, like beer and wine, may be allowed in one state but not in another. Although alcohol sales from grocery and convenience stores may range from state to state, one thing remains certain when it comes to the sale of alcohol. Underage drinking is never allowed, and the drinking age remains at 21 in the United States.

Winery Direct Shipping

You'll notice that most states listed below allow for direct winery shipping. This means that wineries are allowed to ship wine directly to the consumer. States that do not allow wineries to ship to consumers will say 'no.' States that do allow wineries to ship to consumers will say 'yes'.

Wineries, for the most part, are allowed to ship their products to other licensed wineries and consumers. However, some states prohibit any domestic shipping of any kind. The two states that ban direct winery shipping are Utah and Mississippi.

Retailer Direct Wine Shipping

You'll notice below that many states prohibit retailer direct wine shipping. Each state has different regulations regarding who can ship which product and which states' accept which products. Retailers can include grocery stores and convenience stores as long as they are licensed retailers.

It all depends on the state and its regulations. Some are only allowed to ship wine, while some are allowed to ship wine and beer. Some states are allowed to ship wine, beer, and all spirits. Retailer direct shipping refers to retailers shipping directly to the consumer. Retailers are prohibited from selling alcohol to licensees'.

Basic Breakdown Of What Each State Can Ship

This is a very basic breakdown and should not be used as your only source for alcohol shipping information. Visit your state's government laws website to learn more.

Each state has a different maximum amount for shipping and has different regulations in place in order to ship alcohol.

State Breakdowns

Below, you'll see a state breakdown guide. The guide will tell you what the state is allowed to ship; then, it'll state whether or not direct winery shipping and retailer direct wine shipping are allowed. Some states have more regulations than others. Some only allow intrastate shipping.

Alabama

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

Alaska

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes
    • Alaska allows shipping directly to consumers as long as they are in the following zip codes.

Arizona

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate.
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in Arizona. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in Arizona.

Arkansas

  • Wine
  • Mead
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes, on-site only
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No
    • Click here to learn more about Arkansas' regulations on shipping alcohol.
    • Arkansas requires residents to participate in an on-site sale directly on the winery's premises to receive wine directly shipped to them, "unless shipping by a small farm winery licensee."

California

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes
    • As for California, according to FedEx, "Per state reciprocal laws, shipments are only allowed from those retailers in states recognized as also allowing direct-to-consumer wine shipping by out-of-state retailers."

Colorado

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

Connecticut

  • Wine
  • Cider
  • Mead
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

Delaware

  • Wine
  • Beer
    • Winery Direct Shipping - No
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No
    • The NCSL states that shipments need to be delivered to a wholesaler, then using a retail license, delivered to consumers.
    • Although the FedEx shipping guide claims that Delaware does not allow direct winery shipping, there seems to be an exception. According to the Wine Institute, "Delaware residents visiting on-site at a winery may have wine shipped back to Delaware for their own personal use."

District of Columbia

  • Wine
  • Spirits
  • Beer
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes

Florida

  • All Alcoholic Beverages
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes
    • Florida has dry counties that prohibit direct shipping to the consumer. The two dry counties include Lafayette and Liberty. Find more information on Florida's wine shipping laws, click here.

Georgia

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

Hawaii

  • Liquor
  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

Idaho

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate.
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in Idaho. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in Idaho.

Illinois

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate.
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in Illinois. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in Illinois.

Indiana

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate.
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in Indiana. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in Indiana.

Iowa

  • Native Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

Kansas

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

Kentucky

  • Alcoholic Beverages
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

Louisiana

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes

Maine

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate.
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in Maine. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in Maine.

Maryland

  • Wine
  • Pomace Brandy
  • Alcoholic Beverages
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

Massachusetts

  • Wine
  • Beer
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate.
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in Massachusetts. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in Massachusetts.

Michigan

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate.
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in Michigan. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in Michigan.

Minnesota

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate.
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in Minnesota. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in Minnesota.

Mississippi

  • Prohibited
    • Winery Direct Shipping - No
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No
    • However, according to the NCSL, "An individual resident of this state who is at least 21 years of age may purchase wine from a winery and have the purchase shipped into this state so long as it is shipped to a package retailer permittee in Mississippi; however, the permittee shall pay to the department all taxes, fees and surcharges on the wine that are imposed upon the sale of wine shipped by the department."

Missouri

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate.
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in Missouri. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in Missouri.

Montana

  • Wine
  • Beer
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

Nebraska

  • Alcoholic Liquor
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes

Nevada

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

New Hampshire

  • Wine
  • Beer
  • Liquor
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes
    • New Hampshire requires direct shipper permits in order to participate in direct winery shipping. Shipments are prohibited to the town of Ellsworth.

New Jersey

  • Wine
  • Cider
  • Mead
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in New Jersey. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in New Jersey.

New Mexico

  • Wine
  • Cider
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes
    • For New Mexico, according to FedEx, "Per state reciprocal laws, shipments are only allowed from those retailers in states recognized as also allowing direct-to-consumer wine shipping by out-of-state retailers."

New York

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in New York. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in New York.

North Carolina

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate.
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in North Carolina. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in North Carolina.

North Dakota

  • Wine
  • Beer
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes

Ohio

  • Wine
  • Beer
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in Ohio. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in Ohio.

Oklahoma

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No
    • As for Oklahoma, according to FedEx, "Because the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission has interpreted Oklahoma law as prohibiting fulfillment houses from shipping to Oklahoma consumers on behalf of holders of Oklahoma Direct Wine Shipping Permits, holders of Oklahoma Direct Wine Shipping Permits may not use fulfillment houses to ship to Oklahoma consumers".

Oregon

  • Wine
  • Cider
  • Malt Beverages
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes

Pennsylvania

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

Rhode Island

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - On-Site Only
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, Intrastate
    • The consumer must be present at purchase on the manufacturer's premises to have alcohol shipped to their home. For more information, visit the NCSL webpage.

South Carolina

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in South Carolina. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in South Carolina.

South Dakota

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

Tennesse

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

Texas

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in Texas. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in Texas.
  • Utah
    • All Alcohol Shipping Prohibited
      • Winery Direct Shipping - No
      • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No
  • Vermont
    • Wine
    • Malt Beverages
      • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
      • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

Virginia

  • Wine
  • Beer
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes

Washington

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes, intrastate
    • Retailer direct shipping is intrastate only, meaning retailers in the state are only allowed to ship directly to residents in Washington. This prohibits retailers outside of the state from shipping alcohol to consumers in Washington.

West Virginia

  • Wine
  • Liquor
  • Beer
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes
    • West Virginia has dry areas that prohibit shipping. Find the dry area zip codes here.

Wisconsin

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - No

Wyoming

  • Wine
    • Winery Direct Shipping - Yes
    • Retailer Direct Wine Shipping - Yes

Overall

That's a lot of states to go over. Here's your reminder that a state law is subject to change when new laws are passed. Again, do not use this as your sole source of information regarding state shipping laws. Visit your state's government page to learn more. The sources used to gather this information include FedEx's Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping State Reference Guide, the NCSL Direct Shipment of Alcohol State Statutes, and the Wine Institute State Shipping Laws website.

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