ALABAMA, USA — Home delivery of beer, wine, and spirits in Alabama? Two bills that would allow this were introduced in the Alabama Legislature.
HB229 and SB126 would both allow "the licensee to deliver sealed beer, wine, and spirits from certain licensed retail establishments directly to individuals in Alabama who are at least 21 years of age for their personal use." The bills would also allow for a licensing process, restrictions, and requirements for delivery service licensees.
Curbside pickup of alcohol was allowed for several months in 2020 when restaurants could not open to patrons, but alcohol delivery was not allowed. The proposed law would allow restaurants that serve alcohol to apply for a license to deliver alcoholic beverages with a purchased meal.
Alcohol could be transported across dry counties and dry municipalities but not delivered within those areas, and deliveries in wet areas can only be made during the same hours in which alcohol is sold elsewhere.
Alabama is very specific in how it defines beer, wine, and spirits. For example, beer is defined as, "Any beer, lager beer, ale, porter, malt or brewed beverage, or similar fermented malt liquor beverage containing one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume and not in excess of thirteen and nine-tenths percent alcohol by volume, by whatever name the same may be called brewed or produced from malt, wholly or in part, or from rice, grain of any kind, bran, glucose, sugar, or molasses. A beer or malt or brewed beverage may incorporate honey, fruit, fruit juice, fruit concentrate, herbs, spices, or other flavorings during the fermentation process. The term does not include any product defined as liquor, table wine, or wine."
Scroll down to see the complete bills and definitions of beverages including wine, table wine, brandy, mead, and liquor.
READ: SB 126
READ: HB 229