Throughout the years, delivery apps and services have become more and more popular.
As more people work from home, the idea of alcohol delivery is becoming less taboo, and many delivery services are now adding alcohol delivery to their roster.
Postmates is a top-rated delivery service, and although food and drink are the most common items ordered, many people want to know if alcohol delivery is available as well.
The answer is yes, but the particulars vary, depending on location and availability, as well as local laws in your area.
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about ordering alcohol from Postmates.
Table Of Contents
Does Postmates Deliver Alcohol?
Postmates does indeed deliver alcoholic drinks along with food orders or as a stand-alone delivery, similar to other alcohol delivery services, like:
- Drizly
- Minibar Delivery
- Total Wine
However, they only offer alcohol delivery in certain cities in the United States.
Be aware that Postmates doesn’t offer the same full range selection as your local liquor store, but there are many types of spirits, craft beer, wine, and other liquor available.
Go to their site to see if their alcohol delivery service is available in your area.
The service is primarily available in Southern California cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego.
Related: Does DoorDash deliver alcohol?
Does Postmates Check ID for Alcohol Deliveries?
In the United States, you must be 21 or older to purchase alcohol, so just like with any other liquor store, Postmates checks for ID when you are buying alcoholic beverages.
They check ID for tobacco products as well.
How Does Postmates Check IDs for Alcohol?
Postmates checks IDs through its Fleet app. You will need to scan both the front and back of your driver’s license or state ID.
If you are using a passport as your ID, you will need to scan the front. Postmates will not deliver alcohol without valid identification.
If a valid ID is not present at the time of purchase/pickup, the order will be returned and marked as “undeliverable,” and proof of age is required for all purchases, whether you are 22 or 82.
Acceptable identification includes driver’s licenses, state IDs, and passports.
Keep in mind that Postmates will not deliver alcohol if the recipient is already visibly intoxicated.
Also, the ID needs to be current and cannot be expired
If you cannot scan your ID, you can manually enter information, such as your name, date of birth, and more, in the app.
Information needed is:
- First and last name
- Date of birth
- Full ID number
- Type of ID
- The expiration date of the ID
How Does Ordering Alcohol Online With Postmates Work?
Ordering alcohol with Postmates is the same as ordering from any other delivery service, such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, etc.
By logging in to the Postmates website, you can type in your address to see if alcohol delivery is available in your area.
If alcohol delivery is available in your area, you will see a list of restaurants and liquor stores that will deliver to your location.
Underneath each one, it will list the delivery fee along with the delivery timeframe.
Postmates drivers usually deliver in a 2.5-mile radius and aim to supply alcohol to you in 30 minutes or less.
How to Order Alcohol on Postmates
Ordering alcohol from Postmates is as simple as placing a food order.
On the Alcohol Delivery with Postmates page, you will see a variety of stores and restaurants that deliver booze.
Restaurants that deliver alcohol along with your food order or alcohol can be ordered by themselves.
In some locations, you can purchase alcohol from actual liquor stores, which gives you a much more excellent selection to choose from.
Once your items are added to your cart, and your ID has been scanned, the checkout process is the same as regular food or grocery delivery.
There will be a delivery fee, and you can pay with a credit card, such as American Express, Visa, etc.
Troubleshooting: Why Is Alcohol Not Available on Postmates?
Alcohol delivery may not be available on your app or in your area for several reasons.
Due to state laws, alcohol delivery is not available in all states.
You may also be outside of the delivery window for alcohol in your state at the time you open your app.
In addition, Postmates only offers alcohol delivery in select markets.
You can check to see if Postmates deliver alcohol in your area by going to their website and typing in your delivery address.
Do You Need to be 21 to Deliver Alcohol for Postmates?
Due to regulations regarding alcohol sales, you must be 21 or older to deliver alcoholic beverages for Postmates.
In addition, you must have a valid driver’s license, pass a background check, and own a smartphone.
Does Postmates Deliver Tobacco?
At present, Postmates does deliver tobacco products, and the age verification process is the same as when you order alcohol.
You must be 21 years of age or older, and your ID needs to be scanned in the Fleet app to show proof of age.
Like with alcohol, your delivery driver will not provide you with tobacco products without proper identification and proof of age.
Other Delivery Apps that Deliver Alcohol
Many other popular delivery apps also deliver alcohol.
Here are some of the most popular ones.
DoorDash
DoorDash provides beer and wine delivery and alcohol pickup from a local store.
You must present a valid driver’s license/state ID to the delivery driver or merchant before receiving your order.
Alcohol delivery is not available in all states due to alcoholic beverage control laws.
Delivery is available in many states, including New York and Washington DC.
A service fee or delivery fee may apply, just like any food delivery order.
You may qualify for free delivery with your first order at DoorDash.
There are some restrictions on alcohol delivery with DoorDash.
DoorDash cannot deliver alcohol to the following locations:
- Public or private school (K-12)
- College campuses
- Prison, reformatory, veterans’ home, or state capitol grounds
- Locker or storage facilities
- A business that sells alcohol
Other restrictions on alcohol delivery include delivering to people showing signs of being intoxicated, such as slurred speech, unusually fast speech, or lack of motor skills.
Other signs are having the smell of alcohol on your breath or clothes or having trouble keeping your eyes open.
Uber Eats
Uber Eats lets you order alcoholic beverages along with your food order for delivery or pickup.
By entering your delivery address on their alcohol delivery page, you can see what options for wine, beer, and spirits are in your area, and you can even order a cocktail from some restaurants.
Grubhub
Grubhub lets you order alcoholic beverages from your favorite restaurants along with your food order as well as from your local grocery store and liquor stores.
Unfortunately, this service is only available in select cities.
Available cities are listed on GrubHub’s alcohol delivery page.
Interested? Learn how to use Grubhub in more detail.
Drizly
The alcohol delivery service Drizly specializes in alcohol delivery.
They offer a wide array of the usual wines, and you can pick up a bottle of whatever tickles your fancy.
What’s incredible about Drizly’s website is that they offer a lot of fun facts and tidbits about the different types of liquor they sell.
Topics include:
- Food Pairings with Wine
- Flavor Profiles of Popular Liquors
- How Do You Define Craft Beer?
In addition to alcohol, Drizly also sells a variety of extras, such as soda, mixers, snacks, and party supplies, along with other non-alcoholic beverages, including energy drinks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a couple of the most frequently asked questions about alcohol delivery with Postmates.
What time does Postmates stop delivering alcohol?
Postmates delivers 24/7, but in regards to alcohol, as with anything else, it depends on the hours of the merchants that are open at the time you place your order.
It’s essential to check business hours before placing an order.
There are restrictions on alcohol delivery times in some cities, so check your local state and county laws before ordering.
How far will Postmates deliver to customers?
In general, Postmates will deliver within a 2.5-mile radius in larger cities to make it easy for drivers to pick up and deliver products to customers in a timely fashion.
The company aims to deliver alcoholic beverages in 30 minutes or less.
In rural areas, though, the delivery radius may be a bit broader because fewer restaurants and businesses may be available.
By typing in your delivery address on the Postmates website, you can see which merchants are available to deliver to your location.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, Postmates is an excellent option for alcohol and tobacco delivery from your favorite restaurant, grocery store, liquor store, or other local merchants.
See what options are available to you by visiting the alcohol delivery page on Postmates’ website.