Online shopping is one of the fastest-growing trends in the world. While some would say that the global pandemic of COVID-19 was the main reason for it, and we can agree with that to some degree, it needs to be said that it started before that. The year when it started to spread cannot be determined definitely.
Instead, we can see that the beginning of the 2010s was the time when we could see the first trace of this trend. During that period, e-shops started emerging. As a result, we can see that there are countless of them to take a look at in this day and age. You can practically find someone who sells something you need.
For example, if you are interested in finding a proper online liquor store, be sure to visit this site. The thing with alcohol is this was a touchy subject in the US for a long time. Today, the legislation is much more liberal than it was, but some restrictions are still out there. That’s why we want to talk about it in greater detail.
The Legislation
The first thing we want to address is that a lot will depend on where you live. As we all know, all states have different legislation. Some of them can have similar laws to others, but it is necessary to perceive all of them as one-of-a-kind. Even the smallest of detail can make a significant difference.
After the prohibition was lifted in the late 1930s every state has gone through enormous efforts to make the legislation encompass all the sorts of alcohol out there. So, they are handled individually. We are talking about wine, beer, and some minor types, like spirits. In some states, you can have problems when you purchase alcohol in person.
There are many interesting cases. In some states, you can come across a problem when you want to purchase alcohol at a certain period of the day. On the other side, you can see that some do not allow either the production or selling of certain types of alcohol. For that simple reason, every retailer has a paper where this regulation is explained in greater detail so that the customers are aware of every limitation.
Using Mail is a No-no
One particularity everyone needs to be aware of is that sending alcoholic beverages through the mail is prohibited by the word of law. It is probably the only aspect that’s shared by all the states. However, that doesn’t mean that you cannot do so by using couriering services like UPS or FedEx.
Naturally, this works solely in the case when these services are used by a licensed alcohol shipper. So, you can see that these laws are not nearly as simple as they may look in some situations. Those who are interested in opening a business that will allow them to import or export these products should conduct serious and thorough research before they do that.
The best way to start this research is to take create an official alcohol shipping agreement with the service provider. Yet again, that doesn’t mean this procedure will be an easy one. You would need to take a look at numerous aspects before you can make a proper and legal agreement with the service provider.
Purchasing Alcohol Online
Ordering alcohol online is possible in almost all states. There are only two exceptions, Utah and Alabama. However, it needs to be said that those that allow it has some restrictions that can prevent you from ordering certain types of alcohol or they can limit the amount you can order. Both of these aspects are for you to research before ordering.
No matter where you are located in the United States, you would need to be older than 21 to conduct such a procedure. Not only that, you would be required to provide the identification to the seller. When someone tries to hide their real identity and appear older than he or she is, then this can turn into quite a big legal problem down the road.
Shipping Between States
What’s interesting to know is that shipping alcoholic beverages from one state to another requires you to follow the regulations of both states. Sometimes, this can be quite a tricky thing to do, especially if you come from one of the two states we have named above.
As a result, many people say that the transfer between two different states can be equally complicated as international shipping. Naturally, this is not something you would encounter in practically all the states out there, but chances that this will happen to exist and you need to be aware of it.
Another interesting situation is that some states do not approve of sending alcoholic beverages to their citizens directly. Alongside the two states we have named above, we need to add Oklahoma to the list. So, these restrictions can become a massive problem for those who try to send alcohol this way.
The Future of Alcohol E-Shops
Finally, we want to address the question of this approach’s future. Over the last two decades, it has been growing both significantly and consistently. There are numerous studies and research done on this topic. All the projections are saying that this trend is about to continue for the foreseeable future.
One of the highest jumps in sales occurred during the COVID-19 lockdowns that were imposed. Despite many predictions, this rise didn’t stop when all the restrictions were lifted. Instead, they have continued to grow. Therefore, we do not have any doubt this trend will continue to be quite popular in the future. As a result, this will be a major business opportunity for many years to come.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, ordering alcohol online is something that can be quite a big problem if you do not understand the legislation properly. Here, we’ve provided you with an insight into this topic that informs the readers about all the crucial aspects. We do not doubt you will find it both interesting and informative.
