Shipping Wine and Alcoholic Beverages

Who can ship wine via UPS services?

UPS only accepts packages containing wine from shippers who are licensed under applicable law and who have signed and entered into a contract with UPS for the transportation of wine.

Note: UPS provides service for other alcoholic beverages (beer and alcohol) on a contract basis only. For shipments containing beer or alcohol, shippers must enter into an approved UPS agreement for the transportation of beer or alcohol as applicable, must be licensed and authorized under applicable law to ship beer and alcohol, and may ship only to licensed consignees. UPS does not accept shipments of beer or alcohol for delivery to consumers. UPS accepts shipments of beer or alcohol only among and between selected states.

The ability to ship wine depends upon the nature of the shipper's license to sell wine, and the laws of the destination states. UPS permits the following types of wine shipments:

Licensed to Licensed
Shipments of wine from licensed shippers may be shipped to licensed consignees, where permitted by applicable law. For example a licensed manufacturer may ship to a licensed distributor, or a licensed distributor may ship to a licensed retailer, so long as the shipments are made in accordance with applicable law. "Licensed to Licensed" shipments cannot be made to consumers.

Direct to Consumer - Winery On-Site Purchase States
Some destination states allow shipments to consumers from licensed out-of-state wineries only when the consumer has purchased the wine on-site at the winery. These states are known as "Winery On-Site Purchase States." Shipments of wine from licensed out-of-state wineries to consumers in Winery On-Site Purchase States may be made if:

• The winery holds all required licenses or permits in the destination state;
• The wine was purchased at the physical location of the winery (not by mail, internet, etc.);
• The winery verified that the purchaser is of legal age to purchase wine;
• The wine is for personal use only and not for resale; and
• The winery lists the purchaser as the consignee

Refer to Addendum A of the UPS Agreement for Approved Wine Shippers for approved Winery On-Site Purchase States.

Direct to Consumer - Winery Direct Shipment States
Some states allow shipments from out-of-state wineries even when the purchase is not made on-site at the winery. Shipments of wine from licensed out-of-state wineries may be made to consignees in "Winery Direct Shipment States" subject to all of the conditions applicable to On-Site Purchase States, except that the purchase need not be made on-site at the winery (the purchase can be made mail, internet, etc.). The purchase, however, must be made directly from the winery, and not (for example) from a retailer. Refer to Addendum A for approved Winery Direct Shipment States.

Retailer to Consumer - Retailer Direct Shipment States
Some states also allow shipments of wine from out-of-state licensed wine retailers to consumers. These states are known as "Retailer Direct Shipment States." Shipments of wine from licensed out-of-state retailers may be made to consignees in "Retailer Direct Shipment States" subject to all of the conditions applicable to Winery Direct Shipment States, except that the purchase is made from a licensed out-of-state retailer rather than a winery. Refer to Addendum A for approved Retailer Direct Shipment States.

Intrastate Retailer to Consumer - Intrastate Retailer States
Some states that do not allow shipments to consumers from out-of-state retailers do allow shipment to consumers from in-state retailers, where the shipper holds a valid retail license allowing sales for off-site consumption. These states are known as "Intrastate Retailer States." Refer to Addendum A for approved Intrastate Retailer States.

What are the requirements for licensed entities to ship wine via UPS?

Contractual Service Only
All shippers who wish to ship wine must enter into either the UPS Agreement for Approved Wine Shippers, or the UPS Wine Industry Fulfillment House Agreement For Approved Wine Shippers. UPS DOES NOT ACCEPT SHIPMENTS OF WINE FROM SHIPPERS WHO HAVE NOT ENTERED INTO ONE OF THESE AGREEMENTS.

Shipping Solution Requirements
The shipper must process the wine shipment with a UPS Compatible Shipping solution such as All shipments of wine must be processed for shipment with a UPS Compatible Shipping solution such as WorldShip or any approved third-party vendor system.

Package Preparation

Packaging Requirements
All shipments must meet UPS packaging requirements for wine. UPS will accept inner packaging of molded Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam, folded corrugated tray, or molded fiber tray. Each packaging component secures the bottles into the center of the shipping container away from the side walls of the shipper. Sturdy outer corrugated containers are required.

Delivery Confirmation Adult Signature Required
All wine shipments must be made using the UPS Delivery Confirmation Adult Signature Required service, requiring the signature of an adult 21 years of age or older upon delivery.

Learn how Quantum View Notify enhances your Delivery Confirmation Adult Signature Required residential wine shipments.

Wine Shipping Label Requirement (US Domestic Shipments only)
All packages containing wine must be labeled by the shipper with a special alcoholic beverages shipping label in addition to any other labeling that may be required by the origin or destination state.

• UPS recommends that wine shippers use Quantum View Notify^® for Delivery Confirmation Adult Signature Required wine shipments.
• UPS sends a shipment notification email to the recipient informing them when the wine shipment will be delivered so that an adult at least 21 years of age can be available to complete the delivery.
• Quantum View Notify is provided at no additional charge.

Approved wine shippers may use the UPS Hold for Pickup (HFPU) service for consumers who would prefer to pickup their wine shipments from a UPS Customer Center location. When picking up the package, the recipient is required to present a government-issued photo ID, such as driver's license, passport, military ID, permanent resident card, or alien registration card to verify that the recipient is 21 years of age or older. If the recipient fails or refuses to present proper identification (or is not 21 years of age or older), the wine shipment is considered undeliverable and returned to the shipper.

Approved wine shippers may use the Ship to a UPS Access Point® location (S2AP) service in conjunction with Adult Signature Required (ASR) for consumers who prefer to pick up shipments from UPS Access Point locations. To ship wine to a UPS Access Point location, shippers MUST use a UPS Locator tool and the "Accepts Restricted Articles" filter to select an approved destination UPS Access Point location.  Shippers must also use approved UPS Access Point Adult Signature Required labels for wine shipments sent to UPS Access Point locations. Wine shipments cannot be rerouted to UPS Access Point locations once in transit. At pickup, the recipient is required to present a government-issued photo ID matching the recipient information on the UPS Access Point label to verify that the recipient is 21 years of age or older and is authorized to receive the package. If the recipient does not present proper identification, is not 21 years of age or older, or does not collect the package within the time required for pickup of UPS Access Point location packages, the shipment will be considered undeliverable and returned to the shipper.

Which states can I ship to under the UPS Wine Program?

Addendum A to the UPS Agreement for Approved Wine Shippers identifies the approved On-Site Purchase States, Winery Direct Shipment States, Retailer Direct Shipment States and Intrastate Retailer States.

The Wine Contract Addendum A is effective as of the "revised" date noted on the Addendum, and applies to all shippers who have entered into a UPS Agreement for Approved Wine Shippers. It is the shipper's responsibility to ensure that all shipments comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the origin and destination states, and that the consignee is authorized to receive the shipment.

View Wine Contract Addendum AOpen the link in a new window

NOTE:

STATE LAWS OF ORIGIN AND DESTINATION STATES MAY ALSO IMPOSE QUANTITY LIMITS, REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, LICENSING OBLIGATIONS, LIMITS ON FREQUENCY OF SHIPMENTS, AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS AND MAY PROHIBIT SHIPMENTS TO CERTAIN AREAS WITHIN A STATE (SUCH AS DRY OR DAMP JURISDICTIONS).