Instacart Beer Delivery: Is It Possible?

Yes, you can buy beer through Instacart. The company delivers alcohol and over-the-counter (OTC) products from select retailers and markets. Customers must be 21 or older to order alcohol items and provide an approved photo ID showing their birth date at delivery. The Instacart shopper will typically scan your ID at drop-off.

Instacart's alcohol delivery policy

Instacart delivers alcohol from select retailers and markets, depending on the availability in your area. The platform has a compliance service that identifies the region and runs a compliance check when an order contains alcohol. The check includes the customer address type, date of birth, delivery time and day, and alcohol type.

For delivery and pickup orders, Instacart runs the compliance check on all details. However, for last-mile delivery orders, the retailer is responsible for ensuring compliance in terms of alcohol type, quantity, and customer age, while Instacart ensures compliance for addresses, delivery time, and day.

ID Requirements

Instacart requires customers to be 21 or older to order alcohol and provide a valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID upon delivery. The accepted forms of ID include a United States-issued driver's license, military ID, state-issued identification card, or passport.

Delivery Policies

Instacart shoppers are required to verify the customer's age and scan or manually enter their ID information. They cannot deliver alcohol to visibly intoxicated persons or leave it unattended. Alcohol orders cannot exceed 400 pounds, and shoppers must deliver them to non-retail businesses, not including retail businesses, restaurants, or college campuses.

Order Replacements and Refunds

If an alcohol item is out of stock, the shopper will suggest a replacement, and if approval is not given, a refund will be issued. Shoppers can only add alcohol as a replacement for other alcohol items, and special requests for additional alcohol cannot be accommodated.

Damaged Items

Instacart provides a credit, refund, or redelivery if the shopper damages an alcohol item due to shattered or cracked glass, or a missing or tampered label.

Valid forms of ID for alcohol delivery

Instacart delivers alcohol for select retailers and markets. You can check availability in your area with the Instacart app or website.

• United States-issued driver's license with photo
• United States-issued military ID
• State-issued identification card
• United States-issued passport
• Canadian-issued driver's license with photo or Provincial ID card
• Canadian-issued military ID
• Government-issued identification card (Minister of Justice and Public Safety)
• Canadian-issued passport
• Canadian citizenship card
• Foreign government-issued photo ID
• Secure Indian status
• Canadian Armed Forces ID
• Armed Forces ID Card
• Government Photo ID
• Landed Immigrant Photo ID
• Certificate of Indian Status

Special restrictions

• Instacart doesn't accept green cards for orders in California, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, or from Costco or Walmart.
• Manual ID entry isn't available for California orders or Costco or Walmart orders nationwide.
• Shoppers can't scan green cards. They have to be entered manually.
• In Canada, some retailers (e.g. Costco) don't accept manual ID entry.
• Instacart shoppers can't deliver alcohol to visibly intoxicated persons or leave alcohol unattended.
• Instacart shoppers can't deliver alcohol if the customer doesn't meet all delivery requirements.

Alcohol delivery costs

Yes, Instacart delivers beer, wine, and liquor from select retailers and markets. The availability of this service depends on your area.

The cost of alcohol delivery via Instacart depends on several factors. Here is a breakdown of the fees:

Delivery Fee

Delivery fees start at $3.99 for same-day orders over $35. The fees vary for one-hour deliveries, club store deliveries, and deliveries under $35. Instacart+ members get free delivery on eligible orders of $35 or more per retailer. Additionally, Instacart+ members can enjoy $0 delivery fees on orders of $10 or more through December 31, 2024.

Service Fee

Orders containing alcohol have a separate service fee, which varies based on location and the number and types of items in your cart. The service fee supports the Instacart platform and covers costs like shopper operations, insurance, background checks, and customer support. Instacart+ members pay a reduced service fee.

Tipping

Tipping is optional but highly encouraged for delivery orders. It is a way to show appreciation to your shopper. 100% of the tip goes directly to the shopper.

Long-Distance Service Fee

Instacart may charge a long-distance service fee if the delivery route is 30+ minutes or includes a toll.

Priority Fee

Priority fees apply to customers who choose priority delivery windows during checkout. These fees start at $2 and vary based on shopper availability. If your order is late, Instacart will refund the priority fee.

Bottle Deposit and Bag Fees

Bottle deposit and bag fees may apply depending on local city, state, provincial, or retailer rules.

Taxes and Additional Fees

Depending on your location, you may be subject to taxes and additional fees, such as sales tax, sugar-sweetened beverage fees, and retail delivery fees (in Colorado only).

Alcohol delivery times

Yes, Instacart delivers alcohol, including beer, wine, and liquor, to customers' homes. The service is available in select markets and retailers, and you can check availability in your area through the Instacart app or website.

Instacart offers same-day alcohol delivery, with orders arriving as fast as one hour after being placed. Delivery windows vary by location but typically start as early as 9 am and can run as late as midnight. However, these times are subject to the operating hours of local stores, including holidays.

To ensure timely delivery, Instacart recommends that customers turn on notifications for the app, monitor text messages and phone calls from their shopper, and provide clear delivery instructions.

Identification Requirements

It's important to note that Instacart has strict policies for alcohol delivery. Customers must be 21 or older and provide a valid, approved photo ID upon delivery. The accepted forms of ID include a United States-issued driver's license, military ID, state-issued identification card, or passport. The ID will be scanned by the Instacart shopper to verify the customer's age. In some cases, manual entry of ID information is allowed, but this method is not available for orders in California or from Costco or Walmart nationwide.

Instacart shoppers are prohibited from delivering alcohol to visibly intoxicated persons or leaving alcohol unattended.

Alcohol delivery locations

Instacart delivers alcohol from select retailers and markets. To check if Instacart delivers alcohol in your area, you can check the Instacart app or website for availability.

Instacart offers alcohol delivery or pickup in the following cities:

Ohio

• Cleveland
• Aberdeen
• Ada
• Adamsville
• Addyston
• Adelphi
• Adena
• Akron
• Albany
• Alexandria
• Alledonia
• Alliance
• Alpha
• Alvada
• Alvordton
• Amanda
• Amelia
• Amesville
• Amherst
• Amlin
• Amsterdam
• Andover
• Anna
• Ansonia
• Antwerp
• Apple Creek
• Arcadia
• Arcanum
• Archbold
• Arlington
• Ashland
• Ashley
• Ashtabula
• Ashville
• Athens
• Attica
• Atwater
• Augusta
• Aurora
• Austinburg
• Ava
• Avon
• Avon Lake
• Bainbridge
• Baltimore
• Bannock
• Barberton
• Barnesville
• Barton
• Bascom
• Batavia
• Bay Village
• Beach City
• Beachwood
• Beallsville
• Beaver
• Beaverdam
• Bedford
• Bellaire
• Bellbrook
• Belle Center
• Belle Valley
• Bellefontaine
• Bellevue
• Bellville
• Belmont
• Beloit
• Belpre
• Benton Ridge
• Berea
• Bergholz
• Berkey
• Berlin
• Berlin Center
• Berlin Heights
• Bethel
• Bethesda
• Bettsville
• Beverly
• Bidwell
• Big Prairie
• Birmingham
• Blacklick
• Bladensburg
• Blakeslee
• Blanchester
• Blissfield
• Bloomdale
• Bloomingburg
• Bloomingdale
• Bloomville
• Blue Creek
• Blue Rock
• Bluffton
• Bolivar
• Bourneville
• Bowerston
• Bowersville
• Bowling Green
• Bradford
• Bradner
• Brecksville
• Bremen
• Brewster
• Brice
• Bridgeport
• Brilliant
• Brinkhaven
• Bristolville
• Broadview Heights
• Brookfield
• Brookpark
• Brookville
• Brownsville
• Brunswick
• Buchtel
• Buckeye Lake
• Buckland
• Bucyrus
• Burbank
• Burghill
• Burgoon
• Burkettsville
• Burton
• Butler
• Byesville
• Cable
• Cadiz
• Cairo
• Caldwell
• Caledonia
• Cambridge
• Camden
• Cameron
• Camp Dennison
• Campbell
• Canal Fulton
• Canal Winchester
• Canfield
• Carbon Hill
• Cardington
• Carey
• Carrollton
• Casstown
• Castalia
• Catawba
• Cecil
• Cedarville
• Celina
• Centerburg
• Chagrin Falls
• Chandlersville
• Chardon
• Chatfield
• Chauncey
• Cherry Fork
• Chesapeake
• Cheshire
• Chesterhill
• Chesterland
• Chesterville
• Chickasaw
• Chillicothe
• Chilo
• Chippewa Lake
• Christiansburg
• Cincinnati
• Circleville
• Clarington
• Clarksburg
• Clarksville
• Clay Center
• Clayton
• Cleveland
• Cleves
• Clinton
• Cloverdale
• Clyde
• Coal Run
• Coalton
• Coldwater
• College Corner
• Collins
• Columbia Station
• Columbiana
• Columbus
• Columbus Grove
• Commercial Point
• Conesville
• Conneaut
• Conover
• Continental
• Convoy
• Coolville
• Corning
• Cortland
• Coshocton
• Covington
• Creola
• Crestline
• Creston
• Crooksville
• Croton
• Crown City
• Cumberland
• Curtice
• Custar
• Cutler
• Cuyahoga Falls
• Cygnet
• Cynthiana
• Dalton
• Damascus
• Danville
• Dayton
• De Graff
• Decatur
• Deerfield
• Deersville
• Defiance
• Delaware
• Dellroy
• Delphos
• Delta
• Dennison
• Derby
• Derwent
• Deshler
• Dexter City
• Dillonvale
• Dola
• Donnelsville
• Dorset
• Dover
• Doylestown
• Dresden
• Dublin
• Duncan Falls
• Dundee
• Dunkirk
• East Fultonham
• East Liberty
• East Liverpool
• East Palestine
• East Rochester
• East Sparta
• East Springfield
• Eastlake
• Eaton
• Edgerton
• Edison
• Edon
• Eldorado
• Elgin
• Elizabethtown
• Elkton
• Ellenburg
• Elmore
• Elyria
• Empire
• Englewood
• Enon
• Euclid
• Evansport
• Evendale
• Fairborn
• Fairfield
• Fairpoint
• Fairview
• Farmdale
• Farmersville
• Fayetteville
• Felicity
• Findlay
• Flat Rock
• Fleming
• Fletcher
• Flushing
• Forest
• Fort Jennings
• Fort Loramie
• Fort Recovery
• Fostoria
• Fowler
• Frankfort
• Franklin
• Franklin Furnace
• Frazeysburg
• Fredericksburg
• Fredericktown
• Freeport
• Fremont
• Fresno
• Friendship
• Fulton
• Fultonham
• Galena
• Galion
• Gallipolis
• Galloway
• Gambier
• Garrettsville
• Gates Mills
• Geneva
• Genoa
• Georgetown
• Germantown
• Gettysburg
• Gibsonburg
• Girard
• Glencoe
• Glenford
• Glenmont
• Glouster
• Gnadenhutten
• Gomer
• Goshen
• Grafton
• Grand Rapids
• Grand River
• Granville
• Gratiot
• Gratis
• Graysville
• Graytown
• Green Camp
• Green Springs
• Greenfield
• Greenville
• Greenwich
• Grelton
• Grove City
• Groveport
• Grover Hill
• Guysville
• Gypsum
• Hamden
• Hamersville
• Hamilton
• Hamler
• Hammondsville
• Hanoverton
• Harbor View
• Harpster
• Harrisburg
• Harrison
• Harrisville
• Harrod
• Hartville
• Harveysburg
• Haskins
• Haverhill
• Haviland
• Hayesville
• Heath
• Hebron
• Hicksville
• Higginsport
• Highland
• Hilliard
• Hillsboro
• Hinckley
• Hiram
• Holgate
• Holland
• Hollansburg
• Holloway
• Holmesville
• Homerville
• Homeworth
• Hooven
• Hopedale
• Hopewell
• Houston
• Howard
• Hoytville
• Hubbard
• Hudson
• Huntsburg
• Huntsville
• Huron
• Independence
• Irondale
• Ironton
• Jackson
• Jackson Center
• Jacksontown
• Jacksonville
• Jacobsburg
• Jamestown
• Jasper
• Jefferson
• Jeffersonville
• Jenera
• Jeromesville
• Jerry City
• Jerusalem
• Jewett
• Johnston
• Johnstown
• Junction City
• Kalida
• Kansas
• Kelleys Island
• Kensington
• Kent
• Kentwood
• Kenton
• Kettlersville
• Kilbourne
• Killbuck
• Kimbolton
• Kings Mills
• Kingston
• Kinsman
• Kipling
• Kipton
• Kirby
• Kirkersville
• Kitts Hill
• Kunkle
• La Rue
• Lacarne
• Lafayette
• Lafferty
• Lagrange
• Lake Milton
• Lakemore
• Lakeside Marblehead
• Lakeview
• Lakeville
• Lakewood
• Lancaster
• Langsville
• Lansing
• Latham
• Latty
• Laura
• Laurelville
• Leavittsburg
• Lebanon
• Leesburg
• Leetonia
• Leipsic
• Lewis Center
• Lewisburg
• Lewisville
• Liberty Center
• Lima
• Limaville
• Lindsey
• Lisbon
• Litchfield
• Lithopolis
• Little Hocking
• Lockbourne
• Lodi
• Logan
• London
• Londonderry
• Long Bottom
• Lorain
• Lore City
• Loudonville
• Louisville
• Loveland
• Lowell
• Lowellville
• Lower Salem
• Lucas
• Lucasville
• Luckey
• Ludlow Falls
• Lynchburg
• Lynx
• Lyons
• Macedonia
• Macksburg
• Madison
• Magnetic Springs
• Magnolia
• Maineville
• Malinta
• Malta
• Malvern
• Manchester
• Mansfield
• Mantua
• Maple Heights
• Maplewood
• Marathon
• Marengo
• Maria Stein
• Marietta
• Marion
• Mark Center
• Marshallville
• Martins Ferry
• Martinsburg
• Martinsville
• Marysville
• Mason
• Massillon
• Masury
• Maumee
• Mc Arthur
• Mc Clure
• Mc Comb
• Mc Connelsville
• Mc Cutchenville
• Mc Dermott
• Mechanicstown
• Mechanicsburg
• Medway
• Melrose
• Mendon
• Mentor
• Mesopotamia
• Metamora
• Miamisburg
• Miamitown
• Miamiville
• Middle Point
• Middlebranch
• Middleburg
• Middlefield
• Middleport
• Middletown
• Midland
• Midvale
• Milan
• Milford
• Milford Center
• Millbury
• Milledgeville
• Miller City
• Millersburg
• Millersport
• Millfield
• Milton Center
• Mineral City
• Mineral Ridge
• Minerva
• Minford
• Mingo Junction
• Minster
• Mogadore
• Monclova
• Monroe
• Monroeville
• Montezuma
• Montpelier
• Montville
• Morral
• Morristown
• Moscow
• Mount Blanchard
• Mount Cory
• Mount Eaton
• Mount Gilead
• Mount Orab
• Mount Perry
• Mount Pleasant
• Mount Saint Joseph
• Mount Sterling
• Mount Vernon
• Mount Victory
• Mowrystown
• Moxahala
• Munroe Falls
• Murray City
• Napoleon
• Nashport
• Nashville
• Navarre
• Neapolis
• Neffs
• Negley
• Nelsonville
• Nevada
• Neville
• New Albany
• New Bavaria
• New Bloomington
• New Bremen
• New Carlisle
• New Concord
• New Hampshire
• New Haven
• New Holland
• New Knoxville
• New Lebanon
• New Lexington
• New Madison
• New Marshfield
• New Matamoras
• New Middletown
• New Philadelphia
• New Plymouth
• New Richmond
• New Riegel
• New Springfield
• New Vienna
• New Washington
• New Waterford
• New Weston
• Newark
• Newbury
• Newcomerstown
• Newport
• Newton Falls
• Newtonsville
• Ney
• Niles
• North Baltimore
• North Bend
• North Benton
• North Bloomfield
• North Fairfield
• North Hampton
• North Jackson
• North Lawrence
• North Lewisburg
• North Lima
• North Olmsted
• North Ridgeville
• North Robinson
• North Royalton
• North Star
• Northfield
• Northwood
• Norwalk
• Norwich
• Nova
• Novelty
• Oak Harbor
• Oak Hill
• Oakwood
• Oberlin
• Ohio City
• Okeana
• Old Fort
• Old Washington
• Olmsted Falls
• Oregon
• Oregonia
• Orient
• Orrville
• Orwell
• Osgood
• Ottawa
• Otway
• Owensville
• Oxford
• Painesville
• Palestine
• Pandora
• Paris
• Parkman
• Pataskala
• Patriot
• Paulding
• Payne
• Pedro
• Peebles
• Pemberton
• Pemberton
• Peninsula
• Perry
• Perrysburg
• Perrysville
• Petersburg
• Pettisville
• Phillipsburg
• Philo
• Pickerington
• Piedmont
• Piketon
• Pioneer
• Piqua
• Pitsburg
• Plain City
• Plainfield
• Pleasant City
• Pleasant Hill
• Pleasant Plain

Pennsylvania

• Philadelphia
• Pittsburgh
• Whitehouse Station

Connecticut

• West Cornwall
• Salisbury
• Lakeville
• Sharon
• Norfolk
• Canaan
• East Canaan
• Falls Village
• Stamford
• Southbury

Delaware

• Bridgeville
• Newark
• Wilmington
• New Castle
• Claymont
• Winterthur
• Bear
• Hockessin
• Laurel
• Frankford

Maine

• Boothbay Harbor
• Bridgton
• Chebeague Island
• Scarborough
• Westbrook
• Portland
• Falmouth
• South Portland
• Cape Elizabeth
• Peaks Island

Maryland

• Chevy Chase
• Takoma Park
• Bethesda
• Silver Spring
• Cabin John
• Rockville
• Potomac
• Kensington
• Garrett Park
• Gaithersburg

Massachusetts

• Allston
• Brookline
• Boston
• Charlestown
• Cambridge
• Somerville
• Brighton
• Jamaica Plain
• Medford
• Watertown

New Hampshire

• Portsmouth
• Conway
• Suncook
• North Sandwich
• Amherst
• Andover
• Antrim
• Canaan
• Atkinson
• Auburn

New Jersey

• New York
• Cherry Hill
• Gloucester City
• Haddonfield
• Haddon Heights
• Voorhees
• Maple Shade
• Marlton
• Mount Laurel
• Moorestown

New York

• Brooklyn
• Long Island City
• Astoria
• Sunnyside
• Woodside
• Flushing
• College Point
• Whitestone
• Bayside
• Little Neck

Rhode Island

• Cranston
• Johnston
• Providence
• Warwick
• North Providence
• Cumberland
• Pawtucket
• Barrington
• East Greenwich
• Bristol

Vermont

• South Burlington
• Colchester
• Burlington
• Essex Junction
• Richmond
• Milton
• Shelburne
• Williston
• Winooski
• Essex

Arizona

• Mesa
• Tempe
• Scottsdale
• Phoenix
• Red Rock
• Paradise Valley
• Chandler
• Gilbert
• Glendale
• Peoria

New Mexico

• Albuquerque
• Corrales
• Rio Rancho
• El Paso
• Santa Fe
• Isleta
• Bosque Farms
• Los Lunas
• Peralta
• Kirtland Afb

Oklahoma

• Foster
• Oklahoma City
• Yukon
• Mustang
• Edmond
• Bethany
• Newcastle
• Norman
• Tulsa

Texas

• Austin
• Cedar Park
• Pflugerville
• Round Rock
• Houston
• Bellaire
• Sandy
• Spring
• Conroe
• Katy

Alaska

• Noatak
• Nenana
• Wasilla
• Anchorage
• North Pole
• Chugiak
• Eagle River
• Fort Wainwright
• Fort Richardson
• Ketchikan

California

• Palo Alto
• Stanford
• Mountain View
• Sunnyvale
• Menlo Park
• Atherton
• San Leandro
• Oakland
• Emeryville
• Berkeley

Colorado

• Wetmore
• Denver
• Boulder
• Louisville
• Lafayette
• Englewood
• Broomfield
• Aurora
• Wheat Ridge
• Westminster

Hawaii

• Kailua
• Aiea
• Honolulu
• M C B H Kaneohe Bay
• Kihei
• Hickam Afb
• Wailuku
• Kaneohe
• Waipahu
• Waimanalo

Idaho

• Carey
• Saint Maries
• Ketchum
• Meridian
• Boise
• Eagle
• Kuna
• Coeur D Alene
• Nampa
• Caldwell

Montana

• Harrison
• Rapelje
• Clancy
• East Helena
• Manhattan
• Bozeman
• Helena
• Fort Harrison
• Lolo
• Missoula

Nevada

• Yerington
• Valmy
• Mesquite
• Verdi
• Reno
• Sparks
• Sun Valley
• Las Vegas
• North Las Vegas
• Indian Springs

Oregon

• Portland
• Beaverton
• Lake Oswego
• Hillsboro
• Tualatin
• West Linn
• Hood River
• Mount Hood Parkdale
• Clackamas
• Washington

Utah

• Riverton
• Draper
• Sandy
• Salt Lake City
• Midvale
• West Jordan
• South Jordan
• Orem
• Lindon
• Alpine

Washington

• Seattle
• Bellevue
• Redmond
• Kirkland
• Mukilteo
• Medina
• Black Diamond
• Vancouver
• Woodinville
• Duvall

Wyoming

• Evansville
• Cheyenne
• Rock Springs
• Granite Canon
• Green River
• Casper
• Mills
• Fe Warren Afb
• Rozet
• Gillette

Alabama

• Douglas
• Laceys Spring
• Valhermoso Springs
• Huntsville
• Madison
• Harvest
• Owens Cross Roads
• Toney
• Meridianville
• Brownsboro

Arkansas

• Bauxite
• Benton
• North Little Rock
• Alexander
• Mabelvale
• Little Rock
• Bryant
• Conway
• Mayflower
• Maumelle

Florida

• Quincy
• Miami
• Miami Beach
• Key Biscayne
• North Miami Beach
• Hallandale
• Fort Lauderdale
• Bokeelia
• Pompano Beach
• Deerfield Beach

Georgia

• Avondale Estates
• Decatur
• Scottdale
• Atlanta
• Smyrna
• Marietta
• Roswell
• Alpharetta
• Clarkston
• Norcross

Kentucky

• Harrodsburg
• Salvisa
• Wilmore
• Lawrenceburg
• Lexington
• Midway
• Versailles
• Frankfort
• Nicholasville
• Georgetown

Louisiana

• Chauvin
• Prairieville
• Saint Gabriel
• Baton Rouge
• Denham Springs
• Geismar
• Gonzales
• Saint Amant
• Walker
• Killona

Mississippi

• Ripley
• Madison
• Brandon
• Raymond
• Terry
• Florence
• Jackson
• Tougaloo
• Ridgeland
• Clinton

North Carolina

• Charlotte
• Carrboro
• Durham
• Chapel Hill
• Raleigh
• Morrisville
• Cary
• Hamlet

Frequently asked questions