A Guide To Buying Beer On Amazon

Amazon offers a wide range of beer options for its customers. The online retailer has been expanding its alcohol delivery services in recent years, with its Prime Now service offering beer, wine, and spirits in select cities. While the two-hour delivery feature is not available in all Prime Now cities, it is a convenient option for those who want to avoid the hassle of running errands to the grocery and liquor stores. Amazon also offers free 2-hour delivery for Prime members from Whole Foods, which carries a large selection of wines.

Amazon's beer selection includes well-known brands such as Modelo Especial, Michelob Ultra Light Beer, Yuengling, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Corona Extra, and Budweiser. They offer a variety of pack sizes, from 6-packs to 24-packs, and different types of beer, such as lagers, IPAs, and stouts. In addition, Amazon provides non-alcoholic options and craft beers for those who prefer something different.

With its growing presence in the alcohol delivery market, Amazon is becoming a convenient option for those looking to purchase beer without leaving their homes.

How to Buy Beer on Amazon

Prime Now alcohol delivery cities

Amazon offers a wide range of alcoholic beverages for delivery, including beer, wine, spirits, and mixers. While the standard Amazon delivery service is already impressive, the company has gone a step further with its Prime Now service, which offers rapid delivery in as little as one hour.

Prime Now alcohol delivery is available in over 30 cities, with 12 of those cities offering beer, wine, and spirits. The service is continually being expanded to new locations. The current list of cities that offer Prime Now alcohol delivery is as follows:

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Baltimore
• Boston
• Charlotte
• Chicago
• Cincinnati
• Columbus
• Dallas-Fort Worth
• Denver
• Houston
• Indianapolis
• Las Vegas
• Los Angeles/Orange County
• New York (Manhattan/Brooklyn)
• Miami
• Milwaukee
• Minneapolis-St. Paul
• Nashville
• Orlando
• Philadelphia
• Phoenix
• Portland, Oregon
• Raleigh
• Richmond
• Sacramento
• San Antonio
• San Diego
• San Francisco Bay Area
• Seattle/Eastside
• Tampa
• Virginia Beach
• Washington, DC

The Prime Now delivery service offers two options: free two-hour delivery for Prime members, or one-hour delivery for a small fee (typically around $7.99 to $8). This fee is in addition to the annual Amazon Prime membership fee, which is required to access Prime Now services.

Using Alexa to order alcohol

Step 1: Enable the Skill

Firstly, you will need to enable the relevant skill on your Alexa device. There are a few different alcohol delivery services that work with Alexa, such as Buttery and Handoff. To enable the skill, simply say, "Alexa, enable [skill name]." For example, "Alexa, enable the Buttery skill."

Step 2: Set Up an Account

Once the skill is enabled, you will need to set up an account with the delivery service. This usually involves providing your delivery address, payment information, and verifying that you are of legal drinking age. You can do this through the service's website or mobile app.

Step 3: Place Your Order

Now comes the fun part—ordering your drinks! You can ask Alexa to recommend specific types of alcohol, such as wine, beer, or spirits. You can even request recommendations based on price. Simply say something like, "Alexa, ask [skill name] to recommend a red wine under $20."

Step 4: Confirm Your Order

After you have selected your drinks, Alexa will ask you to confirm your order. It will provide you with the total cost, including any delivery fees and tips. Once you confirm, your order will be placed, and you can expect your drinks to arrive shortly!

Step 5: Provide ID

When the delivery person arrives, make sure to have your ID ready. They are required to check the ID of the recipient to ensure that alcohol is not delivered to minors. So, don't forget to show your ID and enjoy your drinks responsibly!

MillerCoors Amazon Dash button

MillerCoors, the Chicago-based brewer owned by Molson Coors Brewing Co., has made it possible to order beer with just the tap of a button or a question to Alexa. The company has introduced the "Miller Lite On-Demand" campaign, which offers an Amazon Dash Button option and voice ordering through Alexa.

The Amazon Dash Button is a physical, IoT-connected button that lets you order goods with a single press. The Miller Lite Dash Button will be available to a preselected group of 500 Drizly customers. Drizly is a Boston-based on-demand alcohol delivery startup that brings booze to your door in under an hour.

With Alexa, shoppers can search for the "Miller Time" skill and place an order by saying, "Alexa, start Miller Time." The deliveries will be carried out by Drizly, just like with the Dash Button. Alexa is accessible to owners of devices such as the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and Tap.

The Miller Lite On-Demand program was developed by the IPG Media Lab, the creative technology agency of IPG Mediabrands. It offers a frictionless shopping experience, making it easier for legal-age consumers to get their hands on a beer. Now, with just the push of a button or a simple voice command, you can have Miller Lite delivered to your door in under an hour.

So, whether you're hosting a BBQ or relaxing on the couch, you can keep the good times flowing without having to leave your home. The MillerCoors Amazon Dash Button and Alexa ordering option provide a convenient and innovative way to enjoy your favourite beer.

Amazon's Whole Foods acquisition

Amazon sells beer, wine, and spirits on its website.

Amazons Whole Foods acquisition

Amazon's acquisition of Whole Foods for \$13.4 billion to $13.7 billion was a significant move that expanded the company's physical presence in hundreds of neighbourhoods across the country. The deal gave Amazon a much-desired foothold in the brick-and-mortar retail space, particularly in the grocery category, which has a massive $800 billion annual spend in the United States alone.

The acquisition sent shockwaves through the grocery industry, causing a decline in the stock prices of competitors like Kroger, Ahold Delhaize, Sprouts Farmers Market, Supervalu, and Costco. It forced traditional grocery retailers to enhance their online and offline services to remain competitive.

Amazon's purchase of Whole Foods provided several strategic advantages, including:

• Physical Store Presence: Amazon gained a highly prized urban footprint, adding Whole Foods' 450+ retail stores to its network, which was a reverse of Walmart's acquisition of Jet.com for e-commerce expertise.
• Expansion of Distribution Network: Amazon added 11 food storage centres to its existing network of over 450 distribution centres, enhancing its ability to support new services and expand its reach.
• Increased Share of Wallet: Amazon, being a customer-centric company, could now offer a missing category of products to its customers, increasing their annual spend. There was also a strategic overlap between Amazon Prime and Whole Foods consumers, making it easier for Amazon to expand its customer base.
• Enhanced Negotiating Power: With access to Whole Foods' suppliers and distributors, Amazon gained more power in vendor negotiations, potentially pushing competitors' profit margins down and benefiting consumers with lower prices.
• Meal Kit Services: Amazon filed a trademark for meal kits and partnered with Martha Stewart to deliver same-day meal kits, further expanding its offerings in the food space.
• Disruption of the Retail Landscape: The acquisition served as a wake-up call to retailers, who could no longer deny Amazon's influence and needed to respond with bold, strategic moves to defend their market share and brand.

The deal highlighted Amazon's ambition to dominate every facet of consumers' lives, from computer servers to the food we eat. It forced retailers to rethink their business models and either compete directly or consider partnerships to create an ecosystem of complementary partners to survive and thrive in the new reality.

Alcohol delivery limitations

Amazon offers alcohol delivery in a limited number of locations due to the complex web of state and local liquor laws. As of 2023, alcohol delivery is available in 12 states plus Washington, D.C. However, even within these areas, there may be variations, with some cities allowing only certain types of alcohol and others having dry counties where delivery is prohibited.

Amazon has multiple ways to order alcohol:

• Prime Now: This service includes alcohol delivery from local liquor stores and restaurants in select cities. It is free for Prime members and takes 1-2 hours.
• Amazon Fresh: Amazon's grocery delivery service, free with Prime, also delivers alcohol as an add-on to Whole Foods or Fresh orders in some areas. The selection includes beer, wine, and spirits.
• Whole Foods: Many Whole Foods locations now offer alcohol delivery exclusively for Prime members through Prime Now.

Regardless of the service used, the ordering process is similar:

• Enter your address to verify alcohol delivery is available in your area.
• Browse the beer, wine, and/or spirit selection, which can vary by location.
• Add your choices to the cart (for those 21+).
• Choose a delivery window (typically 1-2 hours) and check out.
• Have your ID ready, as the courier will verify your age before handing over the goods.

Amazon alcohol delivery is subject to local regulations, and customers appearing to be under the age of 55 must present a valid ID showing they are 21 or older to purchase alcohol. Accepted forms of ID include a driver's license, US or foreign government passport, US Armed Forces ID card, and more.

Frequently asked questions