Before buying wine online, make sure you can have it shipped to your home.
There are no uniform laws regarding wine shipment within the United States. Each state has the right to regulate the sale and shipment of wine to and within the state, though as the Wine Institute explains, "states must extend equal privileges to in-state and out-of-state wineries." Before shipping wine, it is important to know who is eligible to ship wine and where it can be shipped.
International Shipping
FedEx explains that only licensed entities, not individuals, are able ship wine internationally. Recipients located in the United States must have a basic importer or wholesaler permit from the U.S. Department of Treasury, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, and in most cases, a state license as well. When exporting wine, the same conditions apply, and the shipper must be aware of all regulations in the country to which he is shipping the wine. Wine being shipped internationally to consumers is only shipped to countries where direct to consumer shipment is allowed. Holding a state license is sufficient to ship wine to consumers in approved countries.
State-to-State
The Wine Institute explains the each state has its own laws that regulate winery-to-consumer wine shipment. The majority of states and Washington D.C. allow for limited direct shipment of wine to a consumer's home. Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Utah all prohibit the direct shipping of wine to consumers. New Mexico is the only state using reciprocity for direct to consumer shipments. All states that allow limited direct to consumer shipments have specific guidelines on the amount of wine that can be shipped to consumers, according to My Wine Direct. These limits specify the number of bottles or liters that can be shipped each month or each year and vary by state. In addition, some states who allow direct to consumer shipment have dry areas where consumer shipment is not available.
Other Regulations
The Wine Institute explains that private individuals are not allowed to ship wine, as the United States Postal Service does not deliver any wine, and most major shipping companies have policies that only grant shipping privileges to wineries and licensed alcohol retailers. In addition, most states have laws that restrict wine shipments from individuals from entering the state. Wine shipments are required to meet packing restrictions, including having a special label, explaining that a person over 21 must sign for the shipment under any and all circumstances.
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