Couple years ago I was going to ship some entries to a competition only to find out USPS, FedEx, & UPS won’t allow alcohol to be shipped. I was basically told you have to lie about the contents to get it shipped. Is that still the case or is there a shipper out there that would deliver to competitions???
It’s only a lie if they ask you. My practice is to show up with a prepaid and preaddressed box that is labeled “Glassware” (which is truthful) and just drop it off. I’ve never been asked by UPS what was inside the box.
I don’t even go that far. I just say “gifts”.
I had a shipper that was authorized to ship alcohol via Fed Ex, but the cost was crazy high. I just gave up sending to comps. Now I just enter local competitions where I can drop off at my LHBS. One thing to suggest if shipping, is to put each bottle in a ziplock bag and then pack as you would other glass items (bubble wrap, etc…).
My understanding is there’s a difference across US Postal Service, FedEx, and UPS (correct me anybody if this is outright wrong) - which is it’s illegal to ship alcohol via USPS whereas it’s policy of UPS and FedEx to not ship alcohol unless you’re a licensed alcohol purveyor (not a violation of any law because they are private shipping services). FedEx and UPS can and presumably will refuse to ship a container known to them to contain alcohol. As others have said, I dodge the concern by using some partial fiction or omission of facts when declaring what’s in the box. I pack bottles carefully to avoid possible breakage that would reveal the contents. It feels a little awkward to me when the ship-to address is a brewery, which is often the case for competitions, and in addition the address information the competition requires may contain indication that it’s going to a competition. There are work-arounds one can figure out for this. If you want to bother, possible fictions here include saying you’re shipping yeast samples or hops samples for evaluation. I’ve had FedEx staff basically give me a “wink and a nod” reaction when shipping in such cases - they satisfied their company’s requirements for asking, I gave an answer, they and I know what’s in the box, no further discussion.
There are federal forms that you fill out, for the Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms folks. ATF.
No big deal. Sign and send. Simple.
Can you send a link to those forms?
There are no special provisions or permissions for mailing alcohol via USPS. The USPS will not ship alcohol. Period. Refer to federal law (18 U.S.C. 1716). Or visit the link at USPS.com concerning nonmailable matter…
I normally use UPS. I completely agree with creating and purchasing the label online. Then you just need to drop it off, no questions asked. On the occasions when I took the package to the UPS store to have a label created, I always told them it contained water samples. This made sense to me as the box was usually going to a homebrew shop.
This event is authorized by the TABC. All you need to do to be legal for shipping is print the BOL forms, and include it with the shipment.
That sounds like a Texas thing.
True, a Texas thing, and being fully approved by the State. But certainly the state you live in will have similar provisions allowing the shipment of beer for contest entry.
The legal option for shipment was coordinated by the event, being the Bluebonnet Brew Off. I would think that other BJCP events would take care of any problems regarding legal shipping.
I send my brother in georgia flip tops of beer all the time through UPS. Just label it fragile. If they ask I tell them collectibles or something like that
You can label it as Yeast Samples.
Shipping companies became wise to that ruse long ago.
You might advise the folks at the Bluebonnet Brew Off, because that was their suggestion.