Alcohol shipping laws in Maryland
We track 4 Maryland rules on shipping wine, beer and spirits to consumers; 2 are bans.
Check a specific item for MarylandMaryland
BannedDo not ship beer or spirits to consumers in Maryland; no permit exists for out-of-state beer or spirits direct shipment, and violations are a felony.
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(a) (1) A person in the business of selling or distributing alcoholic beverages in or from another state may not ship, cause to be shipped, or deliver alcoholic beverages directly to a recipient in the State if the seller, distributor, shipper, transporter, or recipient does not hold the required license or permit. (2) The prohibition under paragraph (1) of this subsection applies to alcoholic beverages ordered or purchased through a computer network. (b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.
Permit neededWineries may ship wine to Maryland consumers only with a Direct Wine Shipper's Permit from the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission, via a carrier holding a Maryland common carrier permit.
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(a) A person shall be issued a direct wine shipper’s permit by the Executive Director before the person may engage in shipping wine directly to a consumer in the State.
BannedRetailers may not ship wine to Maryland consumers; only licensed wine manufacturers can get a direct wine shipper's permit.
Exact text
(a) To qualify for a direct wine shipper’s permit, an applicant shall be: (1) a person licensed outside the State to engage in the manufacture of wine; or (2) a holder of a Class 3 manufacturer’s license or a Class 4 manufacturer’s license.
21+Sell and deliver alcohol in Maryland only to buyers 21 or older; adult signature required for wine deliveries.
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(a) To receive a direct shipment or direct delivery of wine, a consumer in the State shall be at least 21 years old.
Federal
Applies in every state.
BannedNever ship wine, beer or spirits by USPS: all alcoholic beverages are nonmailable under federal law.
18 U.S.C. 1716(f) · draft
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§1716. Injurious articles as nonmailable ... (f) All spirituous, vinous, malted, fermented, or other intoxicating liquors of any kind are nonmailable and shall not be deposited in or carried through the mails. ... (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 781; May 8, 1952, ch. 246, 66 Stat. 67; June 29, 1955, ch. 224, 69 Stat. 191; Pub. L. 85–268, Sept. 2, 1957, 71 Stat. 594; Pub. L. 85–623, §5, Aug. 12, 1958, 72 Stat. 562; Pub. L. 91–375, §6(j)(25), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 779; Pub. L. 92–191, §1, Dec. 15, 1971, 85 Stat. 647; Pub. L. 99–570, title X, §10003, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–167; Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, §60003(a)(7), title XXXIII, §330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1969, 2147; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, §607(g), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3511; Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, §4002(b)(2), (6), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1807; Pub. L. 109–435, title X, §1008(d), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3261.)
Permit neededFedEx carries wine to consumers only for licensed shippers approved under a signed FedEx Alcohol Shipping Agreement, with adult signature.
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Only FedEx-approved, licensed alcohol shippers that have entered into a FedEx Alcohol Shipping Agreement may ship alcohol via FedEx services. Consumers may not ship alcohol of any type via FedEx services. For all alcohol shipments, you’ll need to sign a FedEx Alcohol Shipping agreement. Contact your FedEx account executive for details and assistance and if you don't have an assigned account executive, call FedEx Customer Services at 1.800.463.3339. Adult signature service option. State law, as well as FedEx policy, requires an adult signature at the time of delivery for every U.S. package containing alcohol. It is your responsibility to ensure the adult signature requirement service option is selected so that FedEx requests and obtains the required adult signature. A $5.75 fee per shipment applies for this service.
BannedDo not ship beer or spirits to consumers by FedEx: FedEx carries only wine direct to consumers.
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FedEx currently only permits wine shipments under licensee-to-consumer agreements; beer and spirits require licensee-to- licensee. Licensee-to-consumer FedEx only transports wine licensee-to-consumer.
Permit neededUPS carries wine, beer and spirits only for licensed shippers that have signed the UPS Agreement for Approved Wine/Beer/Spirits Shippers, with adult signature.
UPS: How To Ship Wine · draft
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UPS only accepts packages containing wine from shippers who are licensed under applicable law and who have signed and entered into a contract with UPS for the transportation of wine. All wine shippers must enter into a UPS Agreement for Approved Wine Shippers. All alcohol shippers must schedule a consultation call or speak to their Account Manager to review UPS alcohol shipping policies, submit copies of your state licenses, and complete a shipping agreement. The ability to ship wine depends upon the nature of the shipper's license to sell wine, and the laws of the destination states. UPS permits the following types of wine shipments: Shipments of wine from licensed shippers may be shipped to licensed consignees, where permitted by applicable law. For example, a licensed manufacturer may ship to a licensed distributor, or a licensed distributor may ship to a licensed retailer, so long as the shipments are made in accordance with applicable law. "Licensed to Licensed" shipments cannot be made to consumers. All wine shipments must be made using the UPS Delivery Confirmation Adult Signature Required service, requiring the signature of an adult 21 years of age or older upon delivery. Some states also allow shipments of wine from out-of-state licensed wine retailers to consumers. These states are known as "Retailer Direct Shipment States." Shipments of wine from licensed out-of-state retailers may be made to consignees in "Retailer Direct Shipment States" subject to all of the conditions applicable to Winery Direct Shipment States, except that the purchase is made from a licensed out-of-state retailer rather than a winery. Refer to Addendum A for approved Retailer Direct Shipment States. All shippers who wish to ship wine must enter into either the UPS Agreement for Approved Wine Shippers, or the UPS Wine Industry Fulfillment House Agreement For Approved Wine Shippers. UPS DOES NOT ACCEPT SHIPMENTS OF WINE FROM SHIPPERS WHO HAVE NOT ENTERED INTO ONE OF THESE AGREEMENTS.