Are you looking to begin selling beer, wine, or other types of alcohol online? There is no doubt that businesses of all types are now capitalizing on the ever-growing popularity of internet shopping. 

However, it is vital that you understand some of the complex regulations that pertain to these types of sales before you get started.

Variations in legality from state to state.

If you plan to sell alcohol products over the internet, you also need to have a way to deliver your merchandise to your customers. As it turns out, the shipment of alcohol is regulated by each state, and the requirements vary greatly from one to the next.

Some states allow all types of alcohol products to be shipped to their residents. By contrast, others allow only select categories of these products (just beer and/or wine, for instance) to be sent. One state, Utah, prohibits alcohol of all kinds to be sold over the internet.

In general, alcohol shipping laws hinge on a few factors. These include the type of alcohol (wine, beer, cider, etc.), if the products are individually packed or sealed by the manufacturer, and whether the order originates from a sale in a store such as a winery or over the internet via a payment processor that allows online alcohol sales. 

Additionally, some states place restrictions on how products are delivered. They may, for instance, have laws regulating the types of businesses that can deliver as well as the types of permits that companies may be required to obtain.

Alcohol delivery laws by state.

Some states allow all spirits (wine, beer, and liquor) to be delivered to their residents. These include Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Others allow the shipment of beer and wine but not spirits: Delaware, Massachusetts, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont, and Virginia. 

Still others give permission to ship wine and fermented spirits such as mead and cider: New Jersey, Connecticut, New Mexico, and Arkansas. There are also some states that allow cider but not wine. All remaining states just allow wine to be shipped, but be aware that laws vary. Therefore, it is important to carefully review the rules for the states that pertain to your business.

As with most rules, there are exceptions. For instance, some states allow stores to sell to consumers in person and ship products to their homes while prohibiting online shipments. 

Furthermore, some states require that the buyer is a resident of the same state to which the alcohol products are shipped.

Starting your online alcohol sales business.

There are other important legal considerations to which you must adhere in your alcohol business. Perhaps the most important is ID and age verification. 

To make sure that customers are who they say they are and are of legal drinking age, incorporate selfie verification and ID scanning into your ecommerce platform. Also make sure that your delivery company is equally vigilant about age and ID requirements.

Building a high-quality website should also be one of your first steps as you work to launch your online alcohol sales enterprise. Remember that your site is what customers first experience about your brand. 

Therefore, work hard to make it easy to navigate, eye-catching, and filled with information your customers want to see. Be sure to be in compliance with all state and federal restrictions, and create clear product categorizations and compelling images.

Then take action to ensure that your customers’ payments are as safe as possible from data breaches. The best way to do this is to partner with a secure payment provider with a demonstrated history of success in your industry. 

Furthermore, make it a point to display security badges and SSL certificates prominently on your website in order to instill confidence in your customers that you take the security of their personal details and payment information seriously.

Next, it is important to come up with a multi-faceted marketing strategy to get the word out about your online retail beer, wine, or spirits store. 

Social media, including pages on popular sites like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, can be one of your most effective advertising vehicles. 

On these pages that you regularly update, you can respond to customer inquiries, share blog and video content about your products, advertise promotions, and otherwise engage customers and visitors with your brand.

One of the most powerful marketing tools you can wield involves sharing creative product promotions and packages with your current and future customers.

For example, offering recurring billing allows you to embark on an ongoing relationship with customers in which your products are shipped out on a regular basis, with payments scheduled accordingly. 

Subscription payments for wine clubs provide both you and your customer with predictability, give buyers an uninterrupted stream of the products they want and ease the billing process on the merchant side.

Additionally, the ability to post real-time updates to your social media pages gives you an unprecedented opportunity to create time-sensitive content. Promotions can be rolled out quickly so that you can capitalize on a mood or trend. 

Flash sales, spur-of-the-moment contests and free shipping offers posted on your page can be powerful incentives that drive additional traffic and sales.

Finally, always keep your focus on providing excellent customer service. Be conscientious about answering buyers’ questions and concerns promptly and thoroughly, and provide them with several communication channels such as email, live chat, and telephone access.

When your current patrons are happy with your store and feel connected to your brand, they will be likely to spread the word about your store to their friends and other social contacts.

The key to success in the online alcohol sales sector is to lay a solid groundwork of regulatory compliance, creative marketing, and attention to detail. 

Once these vital elements are in place, selling beer, wine, fermented beverages, and spirits over the internet represents the potential for high profits and satisfied customers.