What You Need To Know About Transporting Alcohol During a Move
There’s a good chance you picked up a boozy pastime within the last few years. Approximately 1.4 million gallons of beer were homebrewed in 2017, accounting for 1% of the total beer market.
And that was before the pandemic increased demand further. In 2020, the sales of home cocktail kits rose 40% over previous years, and the demand for DIY home bar drinks seems to be holding steady.
But what happens when you need to move with all those bottles and all that equipment?
Whether it’s for a new job or to relocate somewhere with a lower cost of living, special consideration needs to be taken when loading and transporting your alcohol, especially across state lines. Read on for advice on how to preserve your labor of love when moving.
Moving Alcohol: Not as Simple as It Sounds
You might think that when it’s time to move, you can simply pack up your alcohol and hit the road. The truth is, there’s much more involved in the process.
Every state has its own laws about transporting alcohol, especially when it comes to moving beer and spirits over state lines. Be sure to look into the laws in your state before making an alcohol haul, and if you’re looking to transport alcohol long distances, there are a few key environmental factors to keep in mind.
When you’re going across state lines, it’s more than a beer run
There are many state and federal laws that govern the transport of alcohol. A single six-pack of beer or a couple of bottles of wine is generally considered “personal use” and is not subject to these laws. But if you’re an “enthusiast”, (meaning you have a higher volume of alcohol to transport) it’s important to know the rules.
“Beer should be kept between 37 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, and wine between 55 and 65 degrees.”
If you want to move beer, spirits, or wine long distances, check out this table for more detailed information on the regulations regarding the transportation and distribution of alcoholic beverages.
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Alabama |
The sale, possession, or transportation of 5 gallons of liquor or more within the state is considered a felony. |
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Alaska |
No transport limitation on alcohol for personal use. However, anyone seeking to sell alcohol within the state must obtain a license. |
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Arizona |
Requires anyone seeking to distribute or sell liquor, wine, or beer of any amount to obtain a license from the state. |
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Arkansas |
Declares it unlawful to transport or distribute wine, spirits, or beer that didn’t originate within the state without a state-issued permit. |
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California |
Allows transport of up to 60 liters for personal or household use. The law specifies international crossing, with no mention of interstate transport. |
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Colorado |
Levies an excise tax for bringing any amount into the state above 4 liters. |
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Connecticut |
Allows you to carry up to 5 gallons of liquor, beer, or wine into the state every 60 days, as long as the product originated within the territories or boundaries of the U.S. The limit is 5 gallons every 365 days for products originating outside of the U.S. Transport above the 5-gallon limit requires special permits. |
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Delaware |
Allows the production of homemade alcoholic beverages of up to 200 gallons per calendar year. You may transport any amount for personal or family use, festivals, or beverage-tasting events. |
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Florida |
Prohibits the transportation of alcoholic beverages of more than 12 bottles, with no specified volume limit. Common carriers and licensed transportation services are exempt from this statute but may require special permits. |
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Georgia |
Differing requirements for in-state vs interstate transport. When transporting within the state, Georgia allows for 1/2 gallon of spirits, 576 fluid ounces of malt beverages, and 1/2 gallon of wine in most instances. When transporting from out of state, an excise tax is levied on amounts over 1 gallon of liquor, 2 standard cases of malt beverages, or 2 standard cases of wine. |
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Hawaii |
Allows the production and sale of up to 200 gallons of liquor or wine, or 100 gallons of beer, as long as it’s produced and transported within the state. Hawaii requires a license for the transport of alcohol from outside the state. |
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Idaho |
Allows transport of legally obtained alcohol with no specified volume limit, as long as the container’s seal isn’t broken. |
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Illinois |
Requires express permission to any organization or individual seeking to bring more than 1 gallon of alcoholic drink per year into the state. |
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Indiana |
Highly complex laws and provisions concerning the state’s transport and/or distribution of alcohol. Contact an Indiana legal professional for definitive answers regarding your specific alcohol transportation situation. |
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Iowa |
Allows 9 liters of wine or liquor to enter the state per calendar month per person of legal age. For beer, this limit is 4.5 gallons. |
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Kansas |
Requires a carrier to be bonded and hold a state-issued carrier permit to bring any amount of alcoholic beverage into the state, except for beer. State limitations regarding beer are vague. Consult a legal professional for specific laws concerning the transport of beer into and through Kansas. |
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Kentucky |
Regulations regarding alcohol transport appear to apply only to common carriers. Consult a legal professional for specific laws concerning the transport of alcohol into and through Kentucky. |
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Louisiana |
Prohibits removing microbrewed or micro-distilled beverages from being transported off the production premises for sale to any outside wholesaler or retailer. |
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Maine |
Requires a license to bring alcohol into the state for personal use or resale, with no volume thresholds specified. |
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Maryland |
Requires a permit to transport alcohol into or through the state from outside the state in any amount and for any purpose, including personal use. |
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Massachusetts |
Requires a permit to transport alcohol into the state for any purpose, including personal use. The permit allows for the transport of any amount of alcohol for personal use. |
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Michigan |
Allows 1 liter of liquor per 30-day period without prior approval. For alcohol at or below 21 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), the limit is 312 ounces per 30-day period. |
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Minnesota |
Employs a 3-tier system that prohibits unlicensed importation of alcohol into the state, with some exceptions. Consult a legal professional for details about Minnesota liquor transportation exceptions. |
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Mississippi |
Requires state-issued permits for the transportation of alcohol for distribution and sale in the state, with little reference to transportation for personal use. |
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Missouri |
Allows the production and transport of up to 200 gallons of liquor or beer for personal use or use in public gatherings where the alcohol is consumed free of charge. |
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Montana |
Allows transport of up to 1 gallon at a time into and through the state for family or personal use. |
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Nebraska |
Allows transport of up to 9 liters of alcohol per calendar month for personal or family use. Any amount brought into the state for selling requires a state-issued permit. |
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Nevada |
Permits the transport of up to 1 gallon of alcohol per month for personal use without a special license. Any alcohol brought into the state for selling requires a state-issued permit. |
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New Hampshire |
Permits the transport of up to 3 quarts. Any alcohol under 6% ABV has no volume limit for personal or family consumption. Estate wineries and microbreweries may apply for a special license. |
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New Jersey |
Permits transportation of up to 12 quarts of beer, ale, or porter, 1 gallon of wine, and 2 quarts of other alcoholic beverages within any consecutive 24-hour period for personal and family use. |
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New Mexico |
Allows for the production, transportation, and sale of craft beers, wines, and spirits produced within the state. There are no evident laws concerning transport from out of state, apart from licensed distributors and carriers. Consult a legal professional for specific information regarding your alcohol transportation into or through New Mexico. |
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New York |
Requires individuals who bring in beer, wine, or hard cider from another state for personal use to report the product on a tax form. |
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North Carolina |
Allows transport of a maximum of 24 standard 750ml bottles of wine per month, 4 liters of spirits, and 80 liters of malt beverages, such as beer, into the state for personal or family use. |
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North Dakota |
Permits the production and transport of up to 27 liters of wine, 85.17 liters of beer, and 9 liters of any other alcoholic beverage for personal or family use. |
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Ohio |
Prohibits the transport or sale of alcohol from out of state without a permit, whether for commercial or personal use. |
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Oklahoma |
Requires a permit to transport up to 200 gallons of alcohol annually into the state for personal use. |
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Oregon |
Doesn’t prohibit the production of alcohol for personal or family use. No provisions could be found relating to the transport of alcoholic goods outside of commercial or common carrier requirements for mass distribution. |
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Pennsylvania |
Prohibits the transportation of alcohol into the state, except with a license to ship sacramental wine, import, or operate as a direct wine shipper. |
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Rhode Island |
Does not allow out-of-state distilleries to ship into the state. No provisions are available concerning transport for personal usage of any alcoholic product. Consult a legal professional for more detailed information concerning transporting alcohol into or through Rhode Island. |
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South Carolina |
Statutes pertain to the commercial shipment of beer, wine, and spirits, with no mention of transportation for personal use. |
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South Dakota |
Allows for 200 gallons of homemade malt beverages, cider, or wine per year to be produced and transported within the state. Statutes make no mention of transport from out of state. |
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Tennessee |
Allows the production and transportation of up to 100 gallons per year, so long as the product isn’t produced for selling. |
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Texas |
Allows 288 fluid ounces of malt beverages, 3 gallons of wine, and 1 gallon of distilled spirits to be transported into the state for personal use. Amounts exceeding the specified limits require a permit. |
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Utah |
Allows residents to bring up to 9 gallons of alcohol into the state without penalty, as long as it’s for personal use. Consult a legal professional if you’re from out of state, and looking to transport alcohol into Utah. |
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Vermont |
Allows transport of 8 quarts (2 gallons) of wine, liquor, or both, and 6 gallons of malt beverage without obtaining a permit, as long as it’s for private use and moved in a personal vehicle. |
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Virginia |
Allows up to 3 gallons of wine, spirits, or beer to be transported into and throughout the state for personal use. |
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Washington |
Allows transport of up to 2 liters of spirits, wine, hard cider, or 288 ounces of beer from another state per calendar month without requiring a license, as long as it’s for personal consumption and not for sale. |
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West Virginia |
Says nothing about the transportation of alcohol into and within the Commonwealth. |
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Wisconsin |
Allows you to bring any amount into the state as personal goods if you move from another state or country. If you’re returning from a visit to another country, you’re permitted to bring 4 liters home with you. Transport from out of state for any use requires a state-issued permit. |
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Wyoming |
Allows transport of 3 liters of liquor, 9 liters of wine, or 5 gallons of malt beverage into the state at any time for personal consumption. |
This article’s representation of laws or statutes is according to the author’s best understanding. The author of this article holds no degree or certification in law for any state. Seek qualified legal counsel before attempting to transport any amount of
