How to ship alcohol: Regulations and requirements

Use our Wine Shipping Flowchart to make sure your shipments comply with any applicable alcohol shipping laws and are acceptable for shipping through our network. An adult signature is required for final delivery. To help ensure an adult is available to sign for an alcohol shipment, you can offer your customers convenient alternative delivery options, such as hold at location. 

Only FedEx-approved, licensed alcohol shippers who’ve entered into a FedEx Alcohol Shipping Agreement may ship alcohol via FedEx^® services. Consumers may not ship alcohol of any type via FedEx services. Learn how you can become an approved alcohol shipper with FedEx. 

Use the information below to learn about alcohol shipping requirements and features of services for shipping domestically or internationally.

Licensee-to-licensee

The shipper must be a FedEx-approved alcohol shipper; the recipient must be a business entity that holds appropriate alcohol licenses, and the shipment must otherwise comply with applicable laws. 

Shipments can move via FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, or FedEx Home Delivery services.

Licensee-to-consumer

FedEx only transports wine licensee-to-consumer. 

Direct-to-consumer wine shipments are limited to the destination states outlined in the Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping State Reference Guide and must otherwise comply with applicable law. The guide doesn’t apply to licensee-to-licensee shipments.

Following are explanations of some of the terms used to describe different transactions when shipping wine to consumers:

• Intrastate: Wine shipping that originates and terminates in the same state.
• Interstate: Wine shipping that originates in one state and terminates in a different state.
• On-site: A wine shipment purchased in person by a consumer at a winery or tasting room that is then shipped to the consumer’s home state.

Licensee or consumer designation in FedEx automation

Shippers are required to use updated versions of FedEx automation for shipments containing alcohol. In doing so, FedEx requires shippers to designate whether an alcohol shipment is intended for a licensee or a consumer.

Licensee-to-licensee

Both the importer and exporter must be licensed entities. For U.S. import shipments, the shipper must hold a license from the country/territory of origin issued in accordance with that country or territory’s laws and regulations. For all international licensee-to-licensee shipments, it’s the shipper’s responsibility to know and comply with all applicable laws and regulations of both the exporting and importing countries or territories.

Licensee-to-consumer

For all international licensee-to-consumer shipments, it's the shipper's responsibility to know and comply with all applicable laws and regulations of both the exporting and importing countries or territories.

FedEx transports only wine from licensee-to-consumer internationally. Such shipments are permitted only via FedEx Express services and only to countries or territories listed here.

To help facilitate the customs clearance of your wine shipments, you’ll need a commercial invoice with the details of your shipment clearly and specifically indicated.

To ship alcohol via the FedEx network in the U.S. or internationally, you must be approved by FedEx, sign an agreement, and comply with all alcohol shipping requirements.

Follow the steps below to get started:

Have a valid FedEx account number.

If you don’t have one, please create an account.

Contact your FedEx account executive.

They will assist you with the authorization process. If you don't have one, schedule a time to chat with one of our alcohol shipping experts.

Sign the alcohol shipping agreement(s).

For all alcohol shipments, you’ll need to sign a FedEx Alcohol Shipping Agreement. Contact your FedEx account executive for details and assistance. If you don't have one, set up a time to talk with one of our alcohol shipping experts.

Review and comply with the following shipping requirements:

• Use of an electronic shipping solution. For U.S. alcohol shipments, you must create your shipping label using an up-to-date FedEx Ship Manager^® electronic shipping solution or a FedEx-approved third-party system. Airbills are not permitted. You must identify all alcohol shipments by selecting the alcohol check box on your shipping software. For international alcohol shipments, you may use the FedEx^® International Air Waybill, but use of a FedEx Ship Manager solution is encouraged.
   
  
• Packaging requirements. Your shipment must meet FedEx alcohol packaging requirements. FedEx accepts inner packaging of molded polystyrene as preferred packaging. Pulp dividers and die-cut corrugated units are also acceptable packaging. Sturdy outer corrugated cartons are required. Get more information and tips for packaging alcohol.

• Adult signature service option. State law, as well as FedEx policy, requires an adult signature at the time of delivery for every U.S. package containing alcohol. It’s your responsibility to ensure the adult signature requirement service option is selected so that FedEx requests and obtains the required adult signature. A $5.75 fee per shipment applies for this service.
  
  If no eligible adult is available at the original address to sign for an alcohol shipment, you can initiate a request for a reroute to an alternate delivery address simply by calling FedEx Customer Service at 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339. For U.S. shipments, the shipment reroute option for an alcohol package is available via FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Home Delivery services. For international shipments, the shipment reroute option for an alcohol package is available in the U.S. via FedEx Express only. The alternate address must be in the same state as the original delivery address. A fee applies for this service and will appear as an address correction/reroute on your invoice. For details, refer to the Fees and Other Shipping Information section of the FedEx Service Guide. To avoid delays and inconveniences resulting from no adult available to sign for an alcohol shipment, you can offer your customers alternate delivery options, such as hold at location. 


• Alcohol shipping label. Every alcohol shipment in the U.S. or originating in the U.S. is required to have a label identifying it as such. FedEx supplies these alcohol shipping labels. For shipments to approved U.S. states, please use the FedEx Alcohol Shipping Label (SEL 169). For shipments from the U.S. to destinations outside the U.S., please use the FedEx International Alcohol Shipping Label (SEL 170). Your FedEx account executive can order the labels on your behalf.

Because FedEx policy allows only approved licensees to ship alcohol, individual consumers who receive a wine shipment are prohibited from returning such a shipment, except under the conditions listed below. If prohibited shipments are inadvertently accepted, customers are responsible for return shipping costs.

• Available only to licensed customers enrolled in the FedEx alcohol shipping program.

• The return must be initiated by the original shipper.

• The returned goods must be in the original packaging (packaging and labeling that are already in compliance with FedEx policy).

• Available services are FedEx Print Return Label and FedEx Email Return Label only.
  

• Available only to licensed customers enrolled in the FedEx alcohol shipping program.

• The return must be initiated by the original shipper.

• The returned goods must be in the original packaging (packaging and labeling that are already in compliance with FedEx policy).

• The recipient, located in the U.S., is required to hold the permits noted in the licensing requirements section.

• A brokerage setup process is required.

• The original shipper will be held responsible for all duties and taxes incurred with both the original shipment and the return, where applicable.