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Does Instacart Deliver Alcohol? Yes, Here’s How It Works

Does Instacart deliver alcohol? Yes, you can order alcohol from Instacart if you live in one of 26 states or the District of Columbia. Find out how here.

Key Takeaways

  • Instacart delivers alcohol, including beer, wine, spirits, and cocktail accessories, following local laws.
  • Age verification through ID scan at delivery ensures compliance with US law requiring customers to be 21+.
  • Alcohol delivery is not permitted without a valid ID; underage orders are strictly prohibited.
  • Instacart offers alcohol delivery in various states, expanding services as laws allow.

Does Instacart Deliver Alcohol?

Yes, Instacart does deliver alcohol, including not only beer and wine but also, depending on local state laws, domestic and imported beers, hard seltzers, wines, and spirits in some areas.

The service, available since 2013, operates in 5,500 cities across the United States and Canada.

Instacart’s platform allows customers to browse the alcohol category to see what’s available in their area, and it also offers cocktail accessories such as mixers, syrups, rimmers, picks, and home brewing fermentation kits.

Related: Does Instacart deliver prescriptions?

How Does Instacart Verify Identification?

Instacart verifies the age of customers ordering alcohol through a two-step process to ensure compliance with US law, which prohibits alcohol sales to individuals under the age of 21.

First, during the checkout process, customers are required to enter their birth date, including year, month, and day, if their order includes alcoholic beverages. This information should match the ID that will be presented upon delivery.

Second, at the time of delivery, customers must be present to receive their order and provide a valid ID.

The delivery driver is tasked with either scanning the ID using the Instacart app or checking it manually to verify the customer’s age before handing over any alcoholic products.

This procedure is part of Instacart’s commitment to responsible service, extending also to the delivery of prescription orders and over-the-counter medicines, for which a valid ID is similarly required.

What Does Instacart Do If You Don’t Have an ID?

If you do not have a valid ID at the time of delivery, Instacart will not deliver alcohol to you, adhering strictly to laws that mandate ID presentation for alcohol purchases.

This policy holds true regardless of the state or the apparent age of the customer, including those over the age of 65.

In such cases, Instacart will cancel the alcohol portion of your order and issue a refund for those items, while the delivery fee and other related fees may still apply. The delivery driver will return the alcohol to the store.

Instacart accepts various forms of identification, including driver’s licenses, state-issued IDs, US passports, and military IDs.

However, it’s important to note that passports may pose scanning difficulties and are not accepted for orders from Costco or Walmart in any state, nor are they typically accepted in California.

Green cards can also be used as a form of identification except for orders from Costco and Walmart or if you reside in Missouri, Minnesota, Washington, or California.

Can You Instacart Alcohol Underage?

Underage individuals cannot order alcohol through Instacart, as the service mandates that customers must be 21 years or older to purchase alcohol, in compliance with US law.

There are no exceptions to this rule, and attempting to circumvent it, such as by having an older adult place the order on behalf of a minor, is illegal and could result in legal consequences for providing alcohol to minors.

Using a fake ID to order alcohol on Instacart is also not a viable option.

Instacart delivery drivers are required to scan IDs to verify the age and identity of the customer before handing over any alcohol. Fake IDs are unlikely to pass this verification process, and using one is illegal and risks serious legal repercussions.

Furthermore, the ID presented must match the person who placed the order, as delivery drivers verify the photo on the ID against the person receiving the order. Using someone else’s ID is ineffective for this reason.

While technically another person who is of legal age can place an order on their own Instacart account and possess a valid ID, it remains illegal to supply alcohol to minors, with penalties varying by state.

Which States Allow Alcohol Delivery Through Instacart?

Instacart offers alcohol delivery in states where it’s legally permitted, continuously expanding its alcohol delivery services in compliance with local laws.

These states include Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Wyoming.

The service adapts to changing laws, with the COVID-19 pandemic prompting some states to relax restrictions on alcohol delivery.

While states like Mississippi and Kentucky have recently allowed alcohol delivery, and there’s potential for future expansion, Utah still prohibits it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Instacart Markup Prices On Alcohol?

Instacart may increase prices on alcohol and other products to cover delivery service costs.

Prices on Instacart often reflect a markup from in-store prices, varying by retailer agreements. This strategy helps Instacart cover the operational expenses of providing the convenience of home delivery.

Does Instacart deliver cigarettes?

No, Instacart does not sell any product that contains tobacco or any other age-restricted products besides alcohol.

What other delivery apps deliver alcohol like Instacart does?

There are some popular alternatives that you can use to have alcohol delivered to your home: Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub and Postmates.

Compare and contrast to see which service meets your needs most effectively.

Save Time with Instacart Alcohol Delivery

The best thing about Instacart alcohol delivery is how convenient it is when you’re too busy to run to the store.

If you are in one of the states where Instacart delivers alcohol, check out your options today and enjoy the ease of ordering your beverage of choice from your phone, tablet, or computer.

Sources

The sources we reviewed to write this article.

See Sources

  • https://www.instacart.com/help/section/4524023334676/360039161192
  • https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-himi-apoorva-mehta-20170105-story.html
  • https://www.grocerydive.com/news/instacart-grows-same-day-alcohol-delivery-to-nearly-75-of-us-households/609698/
  • https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/12/instacarts-alcohol-delivery-is-now-available-in-14-states/
  • https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/01/31/go-alcohol-sales-restaurants-become-permanent-delaware/9253625002/
  • https://www.thenewportbuzz.com/legislation-allowing-take-out-alcohol-from-restaurants-through-2021-passes-ri-house/28252
  • https://www.wlbt.com/2021/07/01/alcohol-delivery-is-now-legal-mississippi-most-stores-are-not-ready-participate/
  • https://wineinstitute.compliancerules.org/state/kentucky/
  • https://sbi.utah.gov/alcohol-enforcement-team/frequently-asked-questions/#import
  • https://www.instacart.com/company/updates/expanding-alcohol-delivery-with-meijer-to-reach-more-households/
  • https://www.instacart.com/categories/2-alcohol
  • https://www.instacart.com/categories/2-alcohol/51-cocktail-accessories
  • https://www.instacart.com/categories/2-alcohol/3988-alcohol-making-kits
  • https://www.instacart.com/help/section/360007902791
  • https://www.instacart.com/help/section/360007902831/360039166852
  • https://www.instacart.com/help/section/360007902831
  • https://www.instacart.com/help/section/360007902851
  • https://www.instacart.com/help/section/360007797992
  • https://www.instacart.com/help/section/360007902791/360039164252
  • https://www.instacart.com/help/section/360007902791/360049068552
  • https://www.instacart.com/help/section/360007902831/360039163432

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