Amazon's Beer Buying: Age Limit And Availability

Amazon sells a wide range of alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, spirits, and hard seltzer. To purchase alcohol from Amazon, you must be 21 years of age or older and provide valid ID upon delivery or before entering the alcohol section in Amazon Go stores. Amazon has also recently introduced Amazon One, a palm-based identity service that allows customers to verify their age by hovering their palm over an Amazon One device, removing the need to carry a physical ID.

Amazon's age verification policy

Amazon has strict age verification policies in place for the sale of age-restricted items, including alcohol.

Age Verification for In-Person Purchase

For in-person purchases at Amazon Go, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market stores, customers must be 21 years old or over to buy alcohol. Customers appearing to be under the age of 55 must provide a valid government-issued photo ID showing they are over 21. Accepted forms of ID include:

• 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 (must incorporate security features)

Age Verification for Online Purchase

For online purchases, Amazon has implemented a new age verification feature called Amazon One. Customers enrolled in Amazon One can purchase alcoholic beverages by simply hovering their palm over an Amazon One device, without needing to present a physical government-issued ID. To sign up for age verification, customers visit one.amazon.com and upload a photo of their government-issued ID (such as a driver's license) and a selfie. The ID is verified by an ISO 27011-certified identity verification provider, and Amazon does not store the ID information. Once signed up, customers can purchase alcohol at participating outlets by hovering their palm over the Amazon One device. The bartender will see a "21+" message and the customer's selfie on the screen and can proceed with the sale.

Age Verification for Delivery

Amazon also has measures in place to confirm the age of customers purchasing age-restricted items for delivery. During checkout, customers are required to provide their name, date of birth, and address. When the item is delivered, the recipient must provide valid photographic ID to confirm they are over 18 years of age. Accepted forms of ID include:

• European Union or United Kingdom (photocard) driving license
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (a defence identity card issued to serving military)
• National Identity card issued by a European Union Member State (excluding the UK), Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland
• Biometric immigration document issued by The Home Office
• Photographic identity card bearing a national Proof of Age Standard Scheme (PASS) hologram

Amazon takes its responsibility in relation to the sale of age-restricted items seriously. The year of birth provided by the customer during delivery is stored securely in Amazon's systems and deleted according to their retention policy.

Amazon Go locations that sell beer

To purchase alcohol at an Amazon Go store, you must be 21 or over. If you look under 55, you will need to show valid photo ID to prove you are over 21. Accepted forms of ID include:

• 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 recognised Indian tribe (if the card incorporates security features)

Amazon has introduced a new age verification feature called Amazon One, which enables customers to verify their age by hovering their palm over an Amazon One device. This removes the need to carry a physical government-issued ID. Amazon One is currently available at select Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores, as well as third-party locations such as Panera Bread restaurants, sports stadiums, and airports.

While Amazon does sell beer, it is not clear exactly which Amazon Go locations sell beer. Amazon Go stores are located in various cities across the United States, including Seattle, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Chicago, and New York. These stores offer a unique shopping experience with no cashiers or checkout lines. Customers enter the store by checking in with their smartphones, which track the items they take from the shelves and charge their Amazon accounts after they leave.

Amazon One age verification

Amazon One is a palm-based identity service that allows customers to pay or enter a location by simply hovering their palm over an Amazon One device. The service was launched to remove friction from everyday activities and create a faster and more convenient way for people to pay or enter a location.

Previously, when purchasing alcohol, customers had to produce a government-issued ID for age verification, which could be a hassle for customers. With Amazon One's age verification feature, customers can now purchase alcoholic beverages by simply hovering their palm over an Amazon One device, without the need to show a physical government-issued ID.

To take advantage of the age verification feature, customers need to visit one.amazon.com and upload a photo of the front and back of their government-issued ID, such as a driver's license, and a selfie. Amazon One does not store customers' government-issued IDs, which are verified by an ISO 27001–certified identity verification provider. Once signed up for age verification, customers will no longer need to produce an ID when purchasing alcoholic beverages at participating outlets.

The age verification capability is currently available at Coors Field, the home of the Colorado Rockies MLB team, with plans to roll out to additional establishments in the coming months. Amazon One is also available at select Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores, Whole Foods Market stores, and multiple third-party locations, including sports stadiums, entertainment venues, and convenience stores.

Beer brands available on Amazon

To buy beer on Amazon, you must be over the age of 18 or 21, depending on the state. Amazon requires age verification and compliance with local laws to purchase alcohol.

Amazon offers a wide variety of beer brands, including well-known names and craft beers. Here are some of the brands available:

Lager

• Modelo Especial
• Michelob Ultra Light
• Yuengling Lager
• Bud Light
• Miller Lite
• Corona Extra
• Budweiser
• Pacifico Clara
• Stella Artois
• Miller High Life
• New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA
• Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Ale

• Blue Moon Belgian White
• Lagunitas Brewing
• Sierra Nevada
• Guinness Pub Draft
• Heineken
• Kona Big Wave Golden Ale
• Foster's
• Athletic Brewing Co

Craft Beer

• Three Wishes
• Josh Cellars
• Cloudveil
• Areche
• Underwood Cellars
• Partake Brewing
• Best Day Brewing
• Corona Non-Alcoholic
• Samuel Adams
• Brooklyn Brew Shop
• White Claw
• Asahi
• Peroni Nastro Azzurro
• Old Milwaukee Non-Alcoholic
• Heineken 0.0
• Saint Ivy

This is not an exhaustive list, and Amazon's selection of beers may vary depending on your location.

Non-alcoholic beer on Amazon

In the United States, federal law prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 21. However, the laws surrounding the purchase of non-alcoholic beer are more complex and vary from state to state. While non-alcoholic beers typically contain less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV), they are still regulated by the Federal Alcohol Administration Act. This means that in some states, such as Oregon, West Virginia, and Wyoming, individuals under 21 are not permitted to purchase non-alcoholic beer. On the other hand, states like Ohio allow those over the age of 18 to buy non-alcoholic beer. Other states, such as Alabama, do not regulate the sale of non-alcoholic beer in wet counties, but prohibit its sale in dry counties.

In the United Kingdom, there is no legal age restriction for consuming or purchasing non-alcoholic beer. Non-alcoholic beer is not classified as an alcoholic beverage under the Licensing Act of 2003, as it contains less than 0.5% ABV. However, some retailers may have their own policies and choose to restrict the sale of non-alcoholic beer to minors. It is always a good idea to check with the retailer before making a purchase.

While non-alcoholic beer is becoming an increasingly popular alternative for those who want to avoid alcohol, it's important to be aware of the laws and regulations surrounding its purchase, especially when buying online through platforms like Amazon. These laws can vary depending on your location, so it's essential to stay informed to ensure you comply with the relevant regulations.

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