Since the pandemic began last year, food delivery apps have become increasingly popular.
A lot of restaurants don’t offer delivery, so Doordash and Grubhub have been lifesavers for hungry people stuck at home.
Uber Eats, a branch of Uber Technologies Inc., has also gained more prominence in the past year.
Most people view Uber as a ride service, but the need for food delivery has brought more attention to this niche platform.
There is a question that’s been on a lot of people’s minds, though; can Uber Eats deliver alcohol?
Learn everything you need to know about Uber alcohol delivery below.
Related: The Best Alcohol Delivery Apps On The Market
Table Of Contents
Does Uber Deliver Alcohol?
Yes, Uber Eats can deliver alcoholic drinks to your home!
However, you can only do this if alcohol delivery is legal in your state.
If you live in the following states, you will not be able to order alcoholic drinks through Uber Eats (or any other food delivery services):
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Utah
- Kentucky
- Delaware
- Rhode Island
If you are not in any of these states, you should be able to order alcoholic drinks.
However, you will need to meet the following criteria:
- You must be at least 21 years old.
- You must have a valid photo ID.
- You must be present when the Uber driver arrives. You cannot have an underage person retrieve it for you.
- You must not already be intoxicated.
As long as you follow the rules, ordering alcohol from Uber Eats should be simple.
Related: Does Grubhub deliver alcohol?
Uber Alcohol Delivery: Uber’s Acquisition of Drizly
In February of 2021, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced that Uber was buying Drizly for 1.1 billion dollars.
This transition will take a few months to go into full effect.
Once the acquisition is complete, you can expect your Uber alcohol delivery experience to improve.
You will soon be able to access Drizly’s marketplace directly from the UberEats app.
But for now, Uber Eats and Drizly are still separate.
About Drizly
Drizly is an alcohol delivery business that can bring drinks right to your door.
They claim that they can deliver most orders in under 60 minutes!
They specialize in alcoholic drinks alone, so their services are a bit more limited than UberEats.
Their headquarters is in Boston, Massachusetts.
They offer services in every U.S. state where alcohol delivery is legal.
The Drizly app offers a wide selection of alcoholic drinks, so whatever you’re looking for, they are likely to have it.
If you’re planning an office party, they even have services for delivering alcohol to businesses!
To access the Drizly marketplace, you can either download the app on your smartphone or browse their website on a desktop.
How Do I Order Alcohol from Uber?
Ordering alcohol from Uber is easy.
Here’s the process step-by-step:
- Download the UberEats app on your phone.
- Enter your address to make sure that UberEats is available in your area. It’s available in most U.S. cities, but smaller towns might have more limited options.
- Browse alcoholic drinks through the app and select what you’d like them to deliver.
- Pay for your alcohol through the app. You can do this through a credit card, debit card, or online payment methods like PayPal.
- Once they’ve arrived, make sure you have a valid form of ID on hand. Most people use a state or military ID, but in some cases, you can also use a passport.
Keep in mind that if the Uber driver arrives and deems you ineligible to receive alcohol, you will receive a restocking fee.
This is why it’s very important to have a photo ID on hand and make sure you’re not intoxicated at the time of order.
Otherwise, you will not be able to receive your drinks.
Drizly vs. Uber Eats for Alcohol Delivery
While these services have similar functions, there are a few ways that they differ as well.
Both Uber Eats and Drizly can deliver alcohol to your door in a relatively short period of time.
They are also available in any state that allows alcohol delivery.
Drizly, however, has a wider selection of alcohol than Uber Eats currently does.
You can also use Drizly on an app or a desktop browser, while you can only use Uber Eats if you have the app.
In general, if you’re only looking to purchase alcohol or you’re looking to cater a party, you can go with the alcohol delivery service Drizly.
If you’re looking for an alcoholic drink to go with your meal, though, you should order from Uber Eats.
Whichever you choose, know that both of these apps provide high-quality alcohol delivery services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions about Uber alcohol delivery? Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions.
Can I Order Pickup from Alcohol Restaurants Near Me with Uber Eats?
Yes, Uber Eats has a pickup option for all orders, including ones that have alcoholic drinks.
To do this, all you need to do is switch over to the “pickup” option when you are entering your order.
Going with the pickup option can make Uber alcohol delivery a little bit easier.
Some restaurants will require you to download a separate app to order from their website.
Ordering through Uber Eats can prevent those apps from taking up much-needed space on your phone.
The best part is, when you order pickup, you will not have to pay the extra fee that you would with delivery.
Even though this option involves leaving your home, it’s still a good option to have during the coronavirus pandemic.
Opting for pickup minimizes your interactions with other people.
How Do I Know Which Alcohol Restaurants Near Me Are Open Late?
Nighttime is the prime time of day to order alcohol.
So naturally, there are usually plenty of options to choose from even in the latest hours of the night.
Keep in mind that some states will not allow you to buy alcohol after a certain time.
If you live in New York, for instance, you cannot purchase alcohol after midnight.
When you shop for alcohol on the Uber Eats app, they’ll let you know if the restaurant is open before you make your order.
Alternatively, most stores and restaurants will have their hours available online.
Make sure to place your order well before they close so they’ll have plenty of time to prepare your order.
How Can I Find Alcohol Near Me?
Finding alcoholic drinks through Uber Eats is simple.
When you install the app, it will require you to put in your location.
From there, they will show you a selection of nearby restaurants that you can choose from.
Can You Get Cigarettes from Uber Eats?
As of now, you cannot use Uber Eats to purchase cigarettes or other tobacco products.
That doesn’t mean you can’t have easy access to cigarettes, though — select retailers and other online grocery delivery services like Postmates can deliver cigarettes to your door.
As with alcohol delivery, you will need to be over 21 and have a valid form of ID.
Does Uber Eats Scan Your ID for Alcohol Orders?
Yes, it does.
The Uber Eats app will require you to take a picture of both sides of your ID before you complete your purchase.
This is to ensure that you are of legal age to purchase alcohol and prevent delivery workers from having to cancel orders.
Even though the app scans your ID beforehand, you will still need to have your ID present at the time of your order.
Delivery drivers will always ask for your ID upon arrival.
Wrapping Up
Purchasing alcohol through Uber Eats is incredibly easy.
With the use of this handy app, you will never have to worry about leaving your house for drinks during a relaxing night in or a party with friends.
Uber’s acquisition of Drizly will only improve these services in the years to come.
The convenience of these services can make alcoholic drinks more easily accessible.
No matter how convenient it may be, though, make sure to use this service and drink alcohol responsibly.
That aside, Uber Eats is an excellent option for purchasing alcohol.
While there are delivery fees, the app itself is completely free to download, so why not give it a try?
