Shipping Alcohol in Europe and Internationally 

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.

What are you interested in?
Sending a smaller shipment
Sending a larger load

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SMALLER SHIPMENT

Shipping alcohol abroad in a package

Depending on the size and time-sensitivity of your shipment, Eurosender recommends:
Standard package
Low-cost shipping for small packages and suitcases
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*Please have in mind that some courier companies include alcohol in the list of prohibited items. For any clarifications, please contact our team of specialists via chat.

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

Depending on the size and time-sensitivity of your shipment, Eurosender recommends:
Pallet delivery
Send bigger loads or bulky items on pallets
Van delivery
Reserve a van for direct transport within Europe
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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:

  1. Place some liner paper on the pallet and all your boxes or packs of alcoholic beverages on it.
  2. Add liner paper directly between each layer, to decrease friction and spread the weight evenly.
  3. Fix the shipment to the pallet with straps and secure it with stretch foil or bubble wrap.

RECOMMENDED

Van delivery service
  • Price from only 0.48 EUR/km
  • Direct and fast delivery, same day pick-up possible
  • Safest mode of transport for packed or unpacked items
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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.

NEED MORE INFORMATION?

FAQs on shipping alcohol in Europe and internationally

Can I ship alcohol with all courier companies?
It is important to note that not all courier companies will ship alcohol internationally. For example, DHL, TNT and UPS will not ship packages that contain alcohol within the content. Each courier has specific rules and requirements for different shipments and services, so we recommend checking this further with the designated courier for your route. When booking Express or Regular plus shipping services, please make sure not to include these items as the courier will refuse to collect the parcel. If you need further assistance, you can reach us by chat, phone or email before shipping to discuss your options further.
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.

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Take into consideration these guidelines when shipping alcohol in Europe or overseas. Nevertheless, please consider that following them does not guarantee that the courier company will transport your package without restrictions. In case you decide to ship alcohol, Eurosender will not be held responsible for any damages caused by the transportation of your shipment.
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