New bill would allow for home alcohol delivery in Wisconsin
Knock knock. Who’s there? Booze.
A new bipartisan bill introduced in the state Legislature would make it legal for Wisconsinites to order beer and liquor straight to their doors without ever getting off their couch, according to a report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Authored by Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Town of Cedarburg, Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, Rep. Cindi Duchow, R-Delafield, and Rep. LaKeshia Myers, D-Milwaukee, the proposed legislation would allow retailers to deliver alcohol directly to customers or provide curbside pickup.
Under current state law, all alcohol sales must be face-to-face transactions with consumers at a licensed store. Sellers can deliver the alcohol to a location after the sale, but the actual purchase must be made in person.
Wisconsin is one of just eight states that still prohibit online alcohol orders.
According to the bill:
- The alcohol must be delivered in its original unopened package or in a tamper-evident sealed container. Additionally, payment must be completed when the order is placed, the customer must be able to verify to delivery drivers that they are at least 21, and deliveries can only be made during the normal hours of the business.
- Alcohol purchased in this manner must be the same price that in-person customers would pay, and all options for sale in the store must be available for delivery.
- Businesses wishing to offer alcohol delivery could apply for a state permit. Permits would cost $150 yearly for retailers and $300 yearly for delivery services. To qualify, the retailer would have to derive less than 50% of its annual revenue from food and beverage delivery.
