Shipping alcohol in Europe or overseas by post or courier
Are you an individual or a company looking for the best way to ship alcohol in Europe or internationally? At Eurosender you can get the best rates on the market and tips on how to pack and ship alcoholic drinks safely around Europe and overseas by mail or courier.
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SMALLER SHIPMENT
Shipping alcohol abroad in a package
HOW TO PACK
How to prepare alcoholic drinks for shipping in a package
Pack and ship bottles of alcohol in small amounts or to send as gifts:
- Place each bottle in a plastic bag and into the bottle box. If you wish you can add one layer of bubble or foam wrap to each box for extra cushioning.
- If you are sending bottles among other belongings in the package, fill the empty spaces between the bottles with other things in the box to add cushioning.
- Close the box and seal all the flaps and edges with adhesive tape.
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LARGER LOAD
Shipping larger loads of alcohol abroad
HOW TO PACK
How to prepare alcoholic drinks for shipping with a pallet
For businesses using the pallet delivery service, we suggest following the steps below:
- Place some liner paper on the pallet and all your boxes or packs of alcoholic beverages on it.
- Add liner paper directly between each layer, to decrease friction and spread the weight evenly.
- Fix the shipment to the pallet with straps and secure it with stretch foil or bubble wrap.
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SHIPPING REGULATIONS
Regulations on shipping alcohol in the EU and internationally
For businesses
Depending on the countries of collection and delivery, different rules may apply. Generally, freight shipments of alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer or cider are perfectly legal and are even covered by CMR insurance. In order to book freight shipments of stronger drinks such as whiskey or vodka, companies should agree on terms with authorised carriers only.
For individuals
Receiving alcoholic drinks by mail or courier from online stores is perfectly legal. However, when it comes to individuals wanting to ship alcohol, most courier companies include alcoholic drinks on the list of restricted items to ship. Still, many people decide to ship them internationally.
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FAQs on shipping alcohol in Europe and internationally
Do people still send alcohol in the mail? Is sending alcohol as a gift allowed in Europe and internationally?
Packages containing one or two bottles of alcoholic drinks are still shipped through courier services. Shippers pack alcoholic drinks among other belongings. Many times, these are not discovered by the courier’s filter (scanning). A rare beer or a bottle of good wine can be great gift ideas. That is why many people ship alcohol drinks to a friend or family as a gift. If you decide to ship alcohol, please keep in mind that you do it on your own responsibility, meaning that no reimbursement is guaranteed if the parcel is damaged.
Is shipping alcohol from Europe to the USA legal?
If you are a reseller or producer of alcoholic drinks, you can get an official license and export alcoholic drinks to the United States legally. Shipping alcohol from the EU countries or the United Kingdom to the USA is not allowed for individuals.
Can I buy alcohol online and order delivery in Europe?
If you buy wine, champagne, whiskey, rum or any other type of alcohol online, the spirits can be delivered from the countries outside the EU or within Europe by post or courier legally. However, the seller must be authorised to ship alcohol.
Does insurance apply when shipping alcoholic beverages by mail or courier?
Licensed companies benefit from CMR insurance when sending alcohol as freight and can even purchase one of our additional insurances at a very low rate. Individuals may ship alcohol by standard service at their own risk and therefore the shipment will not be covered by insurance.
How does alcohol shipping work after Brexit?
Companies selling alcohol can still ship it to the UK, although the process requires more effort. To import or export alcohol to/from the UK, you will have to submit customs declarations and pay VAT charges and excise duties according to the declared value of the goods.