Amazon Beer Buying: Is It Possible?

Amazon's policy on selling alcohol differs depending on the state and the platform. While Amazon does sell beer, wine, and spirits on Amazon Fresh, Amazon Business, and Amazon Go, it is unclear whether beer can be purchased on Amazon's US site as it is on the UK site.

Beer on Amazon: availability and purchasing

Availability

Amazon offers beer for sale on its website, including non-alcoholic beer. The availability of beer on Amazon may vary depending on your location and the applicable laws and regulations.

Purchasing

To purchase beer on Amazon, individuals must be at least 21 years old. Amazon may require valid ID to prove that buyers are over 21. At Amazon Go locations, customers appearing to be under 55 must show valid ID before entering the alcohol section. Accepted forms of ID include:

• A driver's license, instruction permit, or ID card issued by a US state, territory, the District of Columbia, or Canadian province
• A US or foreign government passport
• A US Armed Forces ID card
• A Merchant Marine ID card issued by the US Coast Guard
• An enrollment card issued by the governing authority of a federally recognized Indian tribe, if it incorporates security features

Amazon Business Accounts have additional restrictions, including a prohibition on reselling alcohol purchased through the platform.

Amazon's alcohol shipping policy

In the US, alcohol cannot be ordered online in some states, and the states that do allow it have varying rules. Amazon does ship alcohol via Amazon Fresh where states permit. Amazon Fresh also delivers alcohol through Whole Foods, a subsidiary of Amazon.

In the UK, Amazon requires sellers of alcohol to have a personal licence and a premises licence. The company will allow the sale of alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, or hard liquors, provided they are sold only to people aged 18 or over.

At Amazon Go stores in the US, alcohol is available for purchase at select locations for customers aged 21 and over. Customers appearing to be under the age of 55 must have a valid ID showing they are over 21 to purchase alcohol. Most stores accept various forms of photo IDs, including driver's licenses, passports, and military IDs.

Amazon does not ship alcohol products across borders. Products shipped to a fulfilment centre in the UK, for example, can only fulfil orders coming from UK shipping addresses.

Age requirements for buying beer on Amazon

In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21. This is reflected in Amazon's alcohol purchasing policy, which states that individuals must be at least 21 years of age to purchase alcohol or use any site functionality related to alcohol. This policy applies to Amazon Business Accounts and Amazon Go stores.

At Amazon Go locations that sell alcohol, customers appearing to be under the age of 55 must present a valid ID proving they are over 21 to purchase alcohol. Accepted forms of ID include:

• A driver's license, instruction permit, or ID card issued by a US state, territory, the District of Columbia, or Canadian province
• A US or foreign government passport
• A US Armed Forces ID card
• A Merchant Marine ID card issued by the US Coast Guard
• An enrollment card issued by the governing authority of a federally recognized Indian tribe, provided it incorporates security features

Amazon Fresh, an Amazon food service, also delivers alcohol in states where it is permitted. While the specific age requirements for this service are not mentioned, it is reasonable to assume that they align with Amazon's overall policy of a minimum age of 21 for alcohol purchases.

It is worth noting that the availability of alcohol on Amazon may vary depending on state regulations, and not all states allow alcohol to be ordered online. Additionally, some states have specific rules regarding how alcohol is delivered and received, such as requiring an adult signature upon delivery.

Amazon Go: buying beer in physical stores

Amazon does sell beer, but the availability depends on the state. Amazon Go locations offer beer to customers aged 21 and over. A valid photo ID is required for customers appearing to be under the age of 55. Accepted forms of ID include a driver's license, instruction permit, or ID card issued by any US state, a US or foreign government passport, a US Armed Forces ID card, a Merchant Marine ID card issued by the US Coast Guard, and an enrollment card issued by the governing authority of a federally recognized Indian tribe.

Amazon Fresh also offers beer for delivery in certain states. Some of the beers available for delivery through Amazon Fresh include Michelob Ultra Light Beer, Heineken Non-Alcoholic Beer, White Claw Hard Seltzer, Miller Lite, Corona Extra Beer, Bud Light, and Modelo Especial Beer.

Amazon Fresh: buying beer online

Amazon Fresh is a grocery delivery service that offers beer and other alcoholic beverages for purchase online. The availability of this service depends on the state, as some states do not allow alcohol to be ordered online.

To purchase alcohol on Amazon Fresh, individuals must be at least 21 years old. When the order is delivered, the recipient must show a valid ID proving they are over 21. Most stores accept any of the following non-expired photo IDs:

• Driver's license
• Instruction permit
• ID card issued by a US state, territory, the District of Columbia, or Canadian province
• US or foreign government passport
• US Armed Forces ID card
• Merchant Marine ID card issued by the US Coast Guard
• Enrollment card issued by the governing authority of a federally recognized Indian tribe (if the card incorporates security features)

Amazon also offers alcohol for purchase at select Amazon Go locations. Amazon Go has similar ID requirements as Amazon Fresh.

It is important to note that alcohol purchased on Amazon may not be resold and is only for the customer's internal consumption.

Frequently asked questions