What States Do Not Allow Alcohol to be Shipped?

Rachel Hoffman
June 29, 2022

The direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping model is growing in popularity, as the DtC wine channel recently broke the $4 billion per year mark, and 92% of craft beer drinkers are looking to order their favorite brews to the front door. It’s no surprise that producers, retailers and other potential shippers are itching to meet the growing demand. However, DtC rules vary from one state to the next, and not every state has the same restrictions when it comes to products being shipped. What are the current limitations facing the DtC alcohol shipping industry?

States that do not allow DtC wine shipping

sovos shipcompliantNearly every state (and Washington, D.C.) allows DtC wine shipping. There are currently just two states that do not allow DtC wine shipping in any form:

• Mississippi

• Utah

Delaware and Rhode Island severely limit DtC wine shipping.

States that do not allow DtC beer shipping

DtC beer shipping is not as widespread, with most states not allowing it to occur. The following states do not allow beer to be shipped to a consumer’s front door:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

States that do not allow DtC liquor shipping

Currently, only seven states and the District of Columbia allow DtC liquor shipping. The states that prohibit shipments to a consumer’s home are:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana. Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

States that do not allow DtC cider shipping

Some states consider cider to be a type of wine, while others define it as beer or its own type of alcohol entirely. Because of these technicalities, it’s extremely important to know the specific rules of each state. Some states prohibit the shipping of cider altogether; these states are:

Delaware, Mississippi, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee and Utah.

DtC shipping rules vary from state-to-state and are not static. Rules and regulations change over time, meaning that maintaining compliance is not a simple feat. States sometimes abruptly add more restrictions or open up for business without much notice.  If you’re unhappy with the current DtC restrictions in your state, engage with grassroots campaigns and guilds aimed at the wine, liquor and beer industries.

Take Action

Check out our free ebook to learn more about the DtC alcohol shipping essentials.

Sign up for Email Updates

Stay up to date with the latest tax and compliance updates that may impact your business.

Author

Rachel Hoffman

Share this post

Spain
November 29, 2023
Taxation of Motor Insurance Policies: Spain

There is a wide variety of indirect taxes and parafiscal charges that apply to the different elements of coverage that can be included under a motor insurance policy in Spain. You can read our blog to learn more about taxation of motor insurance policies in Europe, this blog focuses on some of the specifics to […]

North America ShipCompliant
November 28, 2023
How the Beverage Alcohol Industry Prioritizes DEI Initiatives

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have quickly become staples for numerous businesses across industries. The beverage alcohol industry is also demonstrating that these efforts are as core to their company successes as lobbying and member education. We’ve gathered a handful of examples of DEI programs that our partners have implemented, showcasing how ensuring a […]

North America Tax Information Reporting
November 22, 2023
IRS: Form 1099-K Reporting Threshold Change Delayed Again

The IRS recently announced a delay of the new $600 Form 1099-K reporting threshold for third-party settlement organizations (TPSOs) for calendar year 2023. Instead, 2023 will be an additional transition year, with reporting not required unless a taxpayer receives over $20,000 and has more than 200 transactions in 2023. “We spent many months gathering feedback […]

VAT & Fiscal Reporting
November 21, 2023
Import One Stop Shop Expanded Under ‘ViDA,’ ‘Customs Reforms’ Packages

In the last year, the European Commission has put forward two proposals, the “VAT in the Digital Age” and the “EU Customs Reform,” which could significantly expand the scope of the Import One Stop Shop over the next several years. What is the Import One Stop Shop? The Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) is a special […]

VAT & Fiscal Reporting
November 20, 2023
VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) Potentially Delayed

In 2022, the European Commission published its “VAT in the Digital Age” initiative (ViDA), which would make widespread changes to current VAT rules under Council Directive 2006/112/EC (the EU VAT Directive). The Commission proposed an ambitious timeline for ViDA, with the first changes to take effect in January 2025. As with any amendment to the […]