Instacart is a popular grocery delivery service that lets you order food and other items online via their mobile app and website.
Using Instacart, you can have products from all of your favorite local stores delivered straight to your door by a personal shopper.
Online shoppers have access to a variety of products from local retailers who partner with Instacart.
The service even partners with membership-only stores such as Costco and Sam’s Club, letting shoppers browse and purchase from their selections without the need for a membership.
The service is incredibly convenient for those who don’t have time to go on extensive regular shopping trips.
What can you get through Instacart?
Groceries, of course, but also household essentials, beauty products, party supplies, and even home improvement materials.
Table Of Contents
Does Instacart Deliver Alcohol?
Yes, Instacart does offer alcohol delivery as part of their service.
The business started in 2012 as a service to help people stock up on groceries without leaving the house.
Instacart quickly expanded its service over the years and now offers delivery in 5,500 cities across the United States and Canada.
Instacart added alcohol delivery in 2013, which made the service even more convenient and has continued to help people save time on shopping over the years.
Recent expansions to their alcohol delivery availability mean that people in more locations get to enjoy the service.
Is Instacart Still Delivering Alcohol During the Pandemic?
Yes, Instacart has continued to deliver alcohol to eligible customers throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
In fact, the pandemic has driven a lot of growth to Instacart as people have sought to socially-distance.
The increased demand for delivery services has prompted city and state legislatures to revisit laws that regulate the purchase of alcohol.
This has sparked a boom in online alcohol delivery services.
Which States Allow Alcohol Delivery Through Instacart?
Historically, different states have had different laws and policies regarding the delivery of alcohol.
In the past, several states banned the delivery of alcohol entirely or restricted it exclusively to direct orders from select retailers.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic and social-distancing guidelines, many states have loosened their restrictions on alcohol delivery.
Before the pandemic, for example, Delaware and Rhode Island restricted alcohol delivery to direct purchases from a store.
But these states recently began to allow cocktail delivery from bars in an effort to support and encourage social-distancing.
Mississippi and Kentucky are two other states where alcohol delivery was banned very recently.
However, during the pandemic, their legislatures passed bills allowing online purchase and delivery of alcohol.
Instacart has not yet expanded to these states, but it is a possibility in the future.
Utah is the one state where the delivery of alcohol through services like Instacart or even directly from the retailer is still prohibited.
There is a possibility that this may change in the future.
But for now, if you live in Utah, you will not be able to enjoy Instacart’s alcohol delivery service.
Instacart is always expanding its alcohol service where laws allow for it.
If you live in one of the following areas, you will be able to order alcohol online from your local store of choice.
- 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
- Washington, D.C.
- Wyoming
As Instacart is always seeking to expand service, this list is likely to grow in the future.
Does Instacart Deliver Just Beer and Wine?
The types of alcohol available for you to order depend on your local state laws.
You can order domestic beers, imported beers, hard seltzers, and wine through Instacart in most states.
In some cases, you can also order spirits.
The easiest way to find out what is available to you in your area is to browse Instacart’s alcohol category.
In addition to beverages, Instacart also sells cocktail accessories.
You can purchase cocktail mixers and syrups, as well as rimmers and picks to make your drinks truly stand out from the crowd.
DIY lovers might be interested in trying their hand at home brewing with a fermentation kit.
Does Instacart Markup Prices On Alcohol?
No, but you may find that prices are sometimes higher on Instacart than what you’d find in the store.
Instacart reports that retailers are in charge of the prices of any items they offer on the platform.
This means that if a price online is different from the in-store price, this will be due to retailer adjustment.
To determine how a retailer is adjusting its prices, you can visit the Pricing Policy page available on the retailer’s Instacart page.
Related: Does Instacart Mark Up Food Prices?
What Are The Instacart Alcohol Delivery Rules?
Unlike ordering food or home essentials, the process of ordering alcohol online comes with some key requirements.
Instacart has its alcohol policy listed on its website; read on for more information on what you need for alcohol delivery.
Alcohol Policies
First, make sure that you will be at home during the time of delivery.
Instacart will require the signature of someone aged 21 years or older upon delivery of alcoholic beverages.
Second, be sure to have a valid form of ID ready.
You will need proof that you are of the legal age to buy alcohol.
That means your ID will need to show the year you were born and a recent photograph of your face.
Third, Instacart cannot complete a delivery if the recipient is visibly intoxicated.
So be sure to order everything you need before your event or party begins.
Alcohol Delivery
The process for Instacart alcohol delivery is just as streamlined and simple as their grocery delivery service.
- First, place an order through Instacart’s mobile app or website.
- Once you finalize your order, Instacart will send a personal shopper to shop at the store for you.
- After the shopper has fulfilled your order, they or another shopper will then deliver the items personally to your address.
There are several fees to be aware of when placing an order.
You will likely see a delivery fee on your receipt unless you are a member of Instacart Express and have ordered more than $35 worth of items.
Another common charge is the service fee, which is designed to cover Instacart’s operating costs.
Alcohol deliveries incur an additional alcohol service fee.
You can avoid service fees by using Instacart Pickup, a service that allows you to order items through Instacart and then pick them up in one package at the store yourself.
You will have the option of tipping your personal shoppers.
The tip defaults to 5% of the price of your order and will be sent directly to the shopper who assisted you.
Valid Forms of Identification
The following types of personal identification will be accepted by Instacart.
- State-issued driver’s license or identification card
- Military identification card
- US passport (not valid in California or for Costco and Walmart orders)
- Green card (not valid in California, Washington, Missouri, and Minnesota, or for Costco and Walmart orders)
Make sure that your document is up to date, as Instacart will not accept expired IDs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few frequently asked questions related to Instacart, as well as similar personal shopper delivery services.
Does Instacart deliver cigarettes?
No, Instacart does not sell any product that contains tobacco or any other age-restricted products besides alcohol.
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
- 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
