Selling alcohol through your WooCommerce store can be rewarding, but it comes with strict legal and shipping requirements. FedEx allows alcohol shipments only from licensed businesses and under clearly defined conditions, including account approval, special packaging, and adult signature verification.
This guide shows WooCommerce merchants how to ship alcohol legally via FedEx using the WooCommerce FedEx Shipping Plugin with Print Label, covering policies, signatures, and label automation.
Article Contains:
- FedEx Alcohol Shipping Policy Overview
- Legal and Licensing Requirements
- FedEx Services for Alcohol Shipping
- How to Offer Alcohol Shipping in WooCommerce
- Best Practices for Shipping Alcohol via FedEx
- Real-World Example: WooCommerce Wine Store
- Conclusion
- FAQs
FedEx Alcohol Shipping Policy Overview
FedEx allows the shipment of alcohol, but only under strict conditions. These rules are in place to ensure all alcohol shipments comply with federal, state, and local laws. If you run a WooCommerce store and want to ship alcohol via FedEx, understanding these requirements is essential.
Who Can Ship Alcohol with FedEx?
Only licensed businesses can ship alcohol with FedEx. This includes:
- Licensed wineries and vineyards
- Licensed retailers and distributors of wine, beer, or spirits
- Licensed importers and wholesalers
FedEx strictly prohibits individuals (non-licensed persons) from shipping alcohol under any circumstances.
Types of Alcohol That Can Be Shipped
FedEx supports:
- Wine shipping
- Beer shipping
- Spirits shipping
However, whether these can be shipped depends on the type of alcohol, the shipper’s license, and the laws in both the origin and destination states or countries. Some states may allow the shipment of wine but not beer or spirits.
Packaging Requirements
All alcohol must be securely packaged to prevent breakage or leakage. FedEx requires:
- Durable outer packaging designed for glass bottles
- Internal materials to prevent movement and damage
- Leak-resistant liners for certain products
Shippers are responsible for sourcing appropriate packaging. FedEx does not supply alcohol-specific packaging.
Labeling Requirements
Each package containing alcohol must:
- It should be clearly labeled to indicate it contains alcohol
- Display an “Adult Signature Required” sticker
- Comply with all local, state, and federal labeling laws
Proper labeling is essential to ensure legal compliance and successful delivery.
Signature and Age Verification
All alcohol shipments require an adult signature at delivery. The recipient must:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Present a valid government-issued photo ID
FedEx drivers will not leave alcohol shipments unattended or deliver them to minors.
Shipping Restrictions and Destinations
Alcohol may be shipped:
- Within the U.S., but only to states that legally permit alcohol deliveries
- Internationally, but only to countries that allow alcohol imports from approved businesses
It is the shipper’s responsibility to understand and follow the alcohol shipping laws for each destination.
Legal and Licensing Requirements for Shipping Alcohol via FedEx
Shipping alcohol through FedEx is subject to stringent legal and licensing requirements. Only businesses that meet specific criteria are permitted to ship alcohol, and they must adhere to both federal and state regulations.
1. FedEx Alcohol Shipping Agreement
Before shipping alcohol, businesses must enter into a FedEx Alcohol Shipping Agreement. This agreement outlines the terms and conditions for shipping alcohol and is mandatory for all alcohol shipments.
2. Compliance with Federal and State Laws
Shippers are responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in both the origin and destination states. This includes obtaining any necessary licenses or permits required for the shipment of alcohol.
3. International Shipping Requirements
For international shipments, shippers must comply with the laws and regulations of both the origin and destination countries. Only wine may be shipped to individuals internationally, and shipments can move via FedEx Express only. FedEx Ground does not accept any international shipments containing alcohol.
FedEx Services for Alcohol Shipping
Some specific FedEx service options allow shipping alcohol.
Domestic Shipping
- FedEx Express – for fast delivery
- FedEx Ground – for standard delivery
- FedEx Home Delivery – for residential shipments
International Shipping
Only FedEx Express® is allowed for international alcohol shipments, and only between licensed businesses. Fedex International shipping of alcohol to consumers is not permitted.
Restricted Services
Alcohol delivery is not allowed with FedEx SmartPost or FedEx Ground Economy
How to Offer Alcohol Shipping in WooCommerce
The WooCommerce FedEx Shipping Plugin makes it simple to ship alcohol from your WooCommerce store. Follow these steps to set it up:
To get started with the FedEx plugin in your WooCommerce store, visit the following detailed guide: PluginHive FedEx Shipping Guide for WooCommerce .
- Once configured, mark alcohol products, and choose the recipient type (Consumer or Licensee) for proper classification.
- Set Adult Signature Required to ensure FedEx verifies the recipient is 21+ before delivery.
- Use services like FedEx Ground®, FedEx Home Delivery®, and FedEx Express Services for alcohol shipments, and accordingly, FedEx rates will be displayed at checkout.
- This plugin also helps to generate compliant shipping labels with tracking and required indicators (e.g., ASR) directly from WooCommerce.
The plugin simplifies compliant alcohol delivery for WooCommerce merchants.
Best Practices for Shipping Alcohol via FedEx
- Ensure that FedEx has licensed and approved your business to ship alcohol.
- Package alcohol securely using leak-proof, durable materials.
- Clearly label packages to indicate alcohol content and handling requirements
- Enable the Adult Signature Required option to comply with age-verification laws.
- Follow all federal, state, and local regulations for alcohol shipments.
- Include accurate documentation, such as invoices and shipping labels.
- Track all shipments to ensure safe and timely delivery.
For detailed packaging tips, shipping regulations, and plugin setup, read this complete guide to shipping alcohol via FedEx: WooCommerce FedEx Alcohol Shipping Guide .
Real-World Example: WooCommerce Wine Store Shipping Wine with FedEx
Let’s say you run a WooCommerce store that specializes in shipping premium wines across the U.S. Your customer base includes both local buyers and out-of-state wine enthusiasts. As your sales grow, you start encountering challenges with shipping alcohol, particularly regarding legal compliance, delivery confirmations, and ensuring that alcohol is delivered to the right recipient.
Key Challenges you will face:
- State-specific legal restrictions: Some states, like Utah and Alabama, have strict alcohol shipping regulations that only allow certain types of alcohol or require specific licenses.
- Adult signature verification: Customers are often hesitant about whether their order will be properly verified for age, especially when shipping to customers in different states.
- Incorrect service usage: You accidentally selected the wrong FedEx service for alcohol, which caused some deliveries to fail because only FedEx Express and Ground allow alcohol shipments, not FedEx SmartPost or Economy.
How to Solve?
By integrating the WooCommerce FedEx Shipping Plugin with Print Label, your WooCommerce store can resolve these issues with ease:
- State-specific compliance: The plugin automatically provides FedEx services allowed for alcohol shipments, ensuring the store uses only legal and appropriate shipping methods based on state-specific regulations.
- Adult Signature Required (ASR): The plugin activates the Adult Signature Required feature in the FedEx settings, ensuring that alcohol shipments go only to adults aged 21 or older.
- Correct service selection: The plugin ensures that only eligible FedEx services (Express®, Ground®, and Home Delivery®) are available when selecting shipping options for alcohol shipments, thus avoiding any risk of choosing an unsupported service.
- Compliant shipping labels: The plugin automatically generates FedEx-compliant shipping labels with all necessary markings, including the required ASR indicator. This ensures that all shipments meet legal standards for alcohol transportation.
By using this plugin, you can streamline the shipping process while mitigating the risk of delivery issues or fines.
To learn more, watch this video on alcohol shipping via FedEx.
Conclusion
Shipping alcohol via FedEx from your WooCommerce store is possible but requires strict compliance. Only licensed businesses can ship alcohol, and they must use approved FedEx services with an Adult Signature Required. The WooCommerce FedEx Shipping Plugin makes this easy by automating service selection, label generation, and compliance.
For help setting it up or troubleshooting, reach out to PluginHive Support.
FAQs
- Can I send alcohol as a personal gift to someone?
No, individuals cannot ship alcohol directly through FedEx. To send an alcohol gift, you must purchase it from a licensed winery or retailer, who can then handle the shipment on your behalf in compliance with FedEx policies.
- Does FedEx supply alcohol-safe packaging?
No, FedEx does not provide alcohol-specific packaging. You must use durable, leak-resistant, and protective packaging that complies with FedEx guidelines.
- Can I ship alcohol to any U.S. state?
No, alcohol delivery is restricted in some states. It’s your responsibility to ensure that the destination state allows alcohol shipments and to comply with its regulations.
- Can I ship alcohol internationally through my WooCommerce store?
International alcohol shipments via FedEx are limited. Only licensed businesses may ship wine to recipients in countries that allow it, and only via FedEx Express®. You must ensure that both the origin and destination countries permit such shipments.
- What licenses do I need to ship alcohol via FedEx?
You must hold a valid alcohol shipping license relevant to your business type and the states or countries you plan to ship to. This could include a winery license, a retailer license, or a distributor permit. Additionally, you need to sign a FedEx Alcohol Shipping Agreement.
