The drinks e-commerce playbook
How wine and spirits brands sell online in the US: the rules, the platforms and the routes that work. Written by the team that builds these stores.
Guides
Wine and spirits shipping, state by state
Can you ship wine or spirits to this state? Check all 50 states and DC.
Open →A 'Yes, I'm 21' button is enough.Age gates and age verification for US alcohol websites
What US law requires vs what DISCUS, Wine Institute and Beer Institute codes ask, how to build an accessible age gate, and how to keep gated pages in Google.
Read →Shopify can't sell your spirits.Bottle Nexus explained: alcohol checkout for your Shopify site
How Bottle Nexus works in 2026: a buy button and checkout on your own site, licensed retailers as merchant of record, Shopify fit, fees, pros and cons.
Read →Alcohol brands can't do SMS.Klaviyo email and SMS for wine and spirits brands
What Klaviyo, carriers and the TCPA allow for alcohol email and SMS, the core flows a spirits brand needs, state-based segments and deliverability basics.
Read →Alcohol checkout has to live in an iFrame.LiquidCommerce explained: ReserveBar's alcohol commerce stack
What LiquidCommerce is in 2026: ReserveBar's APIs, SDK and Elements for alcohol brand sites, how orders reach licensed retailers, and the pros and cons.
Read →You can't sell spirits on your own site.ReserveBar for spirits brands: how it works in 2026
How ReserveBar works for spirits brands: the marketplace, white-label brand storefronts, licensed retailers as seller of record, and what you control.
Read →All alcohol checkouts work the same.ReserveBar vs LiquidCommerce vs Bottle Nexus: an honest comparison
ReserveBar, LiquidCommerce and Bottle Nexus compared for spirits brands: seller of record, brand control, Shopify fit, published fees and best fit by brand.
Read →Shopify doesn't allow alcohol.Selling alcohol on Shopify in the US: rules, payments, shipping
What Shopify allows for alcohol, how Shopify Payments, age checks and carrier rules work, and when a licensed partner like ReserveBar or BottleNexus is better.
Read →You can't sell spirits online in the US.The US three-tier system and DTC for wine and spirits
How the US three-tier system works, what DTC legally means for wine, spirits and beer, and the legal routes brands use to sell alcohol online in 2026.
Read →You can't ship spirits to customers.Where Can You Ship Wine and Spirits Direct to Consumers?
Wine ships direct to 49 states and DC. Spirits ship to just 10 states and DC. A state-by-state guide to DTC permits, taxes, carriers and the three-tier route.
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