How to Legally Ship Alcohol Products via FedEx
Items like clothing materials, toys, books, and electronic products can be easily shipped with FedEx, with almost no restriction. Although you’re allowed to ship most items with FedEx, there are a few that require special permission. For instance, to ship alcohol items, you need to follow certain strict guidelines provided by FedEx. You have to fulfill their requirements and fill up necessary forms to ship spirits, wine bottles, or any other alcoholic items.
This guide will help you uncover the mysteries surrounding alcohol shipping. You will find the necessary steps and information that would help you ship alcohol items to your customers legally. You will see how you could automatically create shipping labels for your FedEx alcohol shipments.
We will also introduce you to two e-commerce shipping solutions WooCommerce FedEx Plugin and Shopify FedEx App They have built-in features that allow you to ship alcohol directly from your online store. So, read more and get to know about them.
Follow These Basic Guidelines to Ship Alcohol
The first step in shipping an alcoholic item is to check whether you’re allowed to have a shipping permit or not. For that, you may need the valid approval of your local state board. There’s no way you’d be allowed to ship alcohol otherwise and shall be considered illegal if you choose to do so.
Refer to the infographic below to understand the guidelines and requirements for shipping alcohol, including domestic and international shipping rules.

How to get the permit from your local state board?
As mentioned before, it’s important to know whether you’re eligible for the permit or not. You need to be more than 21 years old to ship alcohol (rules will depend on the local state board).
Check eligibility here.
If you’re qualified to ship alcohol, you have to find out the type of alcohol you plan on shipping. Following is a small list of alcohol license types:
- Restaurant Retail Liquor
- Club Liquor—Classes I and II
- Retail Beer (on or off premises)
- Liquor Wholesale
- Wholesale Beer
After selecting the type of alcohol you have to contact an executive from the alcohol board and then apply for the license. He/she will guide you through the complete process and help you get the final permit/license.
How to sign the FedEx agreement to ship alcohol?
Since you know you can now ship alcohol legally, you have to agree to the terms and conditions laid out by FedEx. For that, you’ll need a valid FedEx account number before you can further proceed. If you don’t have a FedEx account then kindly follow this link. After that, you have to provide a copy of the alcohol license from a state or local licensing board to FedEx.
Note—FedEx does not allow consumers/individuals to ship alcohol. Alcohol can only be shipped from one licensee to another licensee. Therefore, both the shipper and recipient should be either licensed wholesalers, licensed dealers, licensed distributors, licensed manufacturers, or licensed importers. However, you may be allowed to ship wine and some other types of alcoholic items directly to the customers.
After getting the copy from the board you have to complete the FedEx Alcohol Shipping agreement. This agreement can be obtained by contacting your FedEx account executive. He/she will help you complete the authorization process.
Note—FedEx Alcohol Shipping agreement may be required each time for every shipment containing alcohol items.

How to Pack the Shipments Correctly?
In the next step, you should plan and pack your alcohol shipments using FedEx-approved packing materials. FedEx recommends you use molded polystyrene for alcoholic and wine items.
FedEx will also allow alcoholic shipments packed with pulp dividers and die-cut corrugated units. You can wrap the outside section of the box with heavy corrugated cardboard.
How does the WooCommerce FedEx Shipping plugin help to ship alcohol?
The WooCommerce FedEx Shipping Plugin is the complete solution for all your shipping needs. By using this WooCommerce shipping plugin, small shop/business owners can ship alcoholic items to their customers easily.
Note: To set up the plugin on your WooCommerce store, follow the setup guide here.
Mark your product as alcohol:
Users can either choose to ship alcoholic beverages to the licensee or customer (if required). Under the Product page, you’ll find an option to select the recipient type. You can choose from two options—CONSUMER and LICENSEE.
- Navigate to Edit Product > Shipping Section > FedEx Shipping Details
- Enable the Alcohol option > Select Recipient Type
Refer to the following image.

You need to make the Delivery Signature as Adult Signature in the WooCommerce FedEx plugin settings. This option is essential for the final delivery of the package. This will make sure the parcel will not go into the hands of someone who’s not over 21.
Go to FedEx Settings > Special Services Tab > Select Delivery Signature as Adult

Moreover, FedEx will need proper identification and the signature of the receiver. You can refer to the article to know more about how to ship with FedEx.
Rates at Checkout:
FedEx allows alcohol shipping using the following services. Make sure to enable any of these services within the plugin settings before proceeding.

Now that your alcohol shipping setup is complete, keep in mind that it is mandatory to set delivery signatures for shipments containing alcohol. Generally, FedEx charges approximately USD 8-9 for delivery signature depending on the account. This additional fee covers verifying the recipient’s age and extra care during transit. Be sure to factor in this extra cost when setting up alcohol shipping options for your store.

Print shipping labels for alcohol shipments:
You can now proceed to create labels for the orders. Start by clicking on “Generate Package” to generate the package details, and then select the “Create Shipment” option to create the shipment. This step generates the necessary shipment details and the associated tracking information. Once the shipment is created, you can print the shipping labels.
To learn more about printing your FedEx shipping labels, check out the detailed guide on how to Print your first FedEx label.
For a step-by-step guide, refer to the detailed video for the complete process.
In the image shown below, you can see that the shipping label clearly signifies that the parcel contains alcohol products. In the label, the term ASR corresponds to Adult Signature Required.

How to use the Shopify FedEx Shipping App to ship alcoholic items?
Shopify Shipping App for FedEx is an end-to-end FedEx shipping solution for your Shopify-based store. With the help of this App, you can show real-time shipping rates on your Checkout page.
You can mention any of your products as an alcohol product. For that, you can enable the Alcohol option as shown in the image below. And as you can see, you have the option to choose the receiver type as well.
Go to Product Setting in the app > Enable the alcohol option > Select Recipient Type

Based on your product weight and dimensions, and shipping destination, this App fetches postage rates from your FedEx account for both domestic and international shipping services. As you can see in the sample screenshot below, the FedEx shipping estimate is displayed along with the estimated delivery date.

The Shopify FedEx Shipping app simplifies label generation by allowing you to print shipping labels in various sizes with a single click after an order is completed. The app sends shipment details to your FedEx account, generates labels (PDF or PNG), and handles postage automatically. Tracking numbers are returned by FedEx, enabling both you and your customers to track the order easily through the shipping confirmation email.
For more details on generating labels, check out this guide on Shopify FedEx Shipping label generation.
Final thoughts
Although there are a lot of restrictions surrounding the shipment of alcohol, you can still manage to ship via FedEx. All you have to do is follow the necessary guidelines and make sure the package is secured all the way.
When it comes to printing shipping labels, both the WooCommerce FedEx Shipping Plugin and Shopify App for FedEx seems to simplify the process. In addition, you also get other amazing features such as displaying live shipping rates, showing estimated delivery dates, offering shipment tracking, FedEx Pickup, and much more.
FAQs on FedEx Alcohol Shipping
How to ship alcohol with FedEx?
First, it is important to ensure your eligibility. To use the FedEx shipping network for alcohol you need to be a licensed alcohol shipper who has entered into an alcohol shipping agreement with FedEx, and adheres to all necessary labeling, packaging, and returns regulations. For more information about how to become authorized to ship alcohol in the United States and other countries or territories, please review the FedEx authorization process.
Can I ship alcohol as a gift to my friends?
Shipping alcohol as a gift can be a bit tricky, as there are certain rules and regulations. Before shipping alcohol, it’s important to check the laws of both the state you’re shipping from and the state you’re shipping to. Also, use a reputable carrier that is authorized to ship alcohol like FedEx. If you’re unsure about how to properly ship alcohol, consider using a shipping solution that specializes in shipping alcohol. These services can help you navigate the laws and regulations and ensure that your package arrives safely and legally.
Is it legal to ship alcohol?
The legality of shipping alcohol varies depending on several factors such as the state, the type of alcohol, and the destination. In general, shipping alcohol across state lines is regulated by both federal and state laws and requires compliance with certain rules and regulations. Additionally, if you’re a business that holds appropriate alcohol licenses (licensee), you could be eligible to ship alcohol.
Can I ship alcohol with FedEx?
Yes, you can ship alcohol with FedEx, but there are certain rules and regulations that must be followed. FedEx allows the shipment of alcohol only by licensed entities, such as licensed wholesalers and retailers, and not by individuals. This means that individuals cannot simply pack and ship alcoholic beverages with FedEx.
What is an alcohol shipping agreement required for FedEx?
An alcohol shipping agreement is a formal requirement to legally transport alcoholic beverages through the FedEx network. It ensures that shippers comply with all regulations and policies set by FedEx for the safe and lawful handling of alcohol shipments. This agreement is necessary to verify that the shipper is authorized and meets the specific criteria outlined for alcohol transportation.
If you have any questions about this article, please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We would be delighted to assist you in comprehending how this plugin can collaborate to meet your shipping needs.
Or in case you are wondering what more the two solutions have to offer, check out the WooCommerce Shipping Plugin for FedEx and Shopify App for FedEx.
If you need assistance regarding our plugins, you can also contact our support team. We are always happy to help.
Happy selling!