Delivering Alcohol Guidelines
Delivering Alcohol Guidelines
Alcohol delivery for DoorDash has expanded to reach the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Alcohol delivery is optional, and opting out of this type of delivery will not impact your ability to receive other orders from restaurants, grocery stores, retail partners, and more. If you wish to opt-out of this type of delivery, please navigate to your dasher preferences. If opt-out is unavailable in your area, please contact 855-431-0459.
In addition, if you ever receive an alcohol order you do not wish to perform, you have the option to decline the order before accepting it or cancel the order before picking it up from the merchant.
Dasher’s Guidelines to Delivering Alcohol:
Step 1: Accepting an alcohol order and picking up an alcohol order from a Merchant
Step 2: Delivering an alcohol order to a Consumer
Step 3: (If applicable): Returning Alcohol to Merchant
Frequently Asked Questions
Step #1: Accepting an alcohol order and picking up an alcohol order from a Merchant
You'll see a notice on the screen indicating the order contains restricted items, including alcohol.
You may Accept or Decline these orders. If you Accept, the Dasher app will include the steps required to deliver alcohol safely and compliantly in accordance with applicable state law.
⚠️Important:
Dashers must be of legal drinking age (21+) and have a valid government-issued ID to deliver orders containing alcohol. Have your ID ready when you pick up the order—Merchants will ask for it.
Dashers cannot consume alcohol prior to or while dashing—or be under the influence of anything. Driving under the influence is illegal and may lead to serious injury, including death, of yourself and others.
Alcohol may not be stored in a passenger area of your vehicle and must not be within reach of the driver.
Step #2: Delivering an alcohol order to a Consumer
⚠️Important Reminders:
Don't leave an order unattended for a Consumer to collect. BEFORE handing the order to the recipient, you must meet the recipient at the delivery location, scan a valid form of ID, perform a physical examination of the ID, and assess the recipient for any signs of intoxication
Again, do NOT hand over the alcohol to the recipient until you have successfully completed each prerequisite identified above.
It's illegal to serve someone alcohol who is already intoxicated. The law requires alcohol NOT be delivered to a consumer who appears to be intoxicated with any substance (such as alcohol or cannabis, for example). You may refuse delivery to any recipient who seems intoxicated.
Don't accept additional orders or special requests for alcohol directly from the Consumer (for example, if they reach out via text or message you in the Dasher app)
Use your best judgment. Remember, you can always refuse to deliver if a person appears below the legal drinking age but presents an ID saying they are older or, if they are of legal drinking age, but are at a location with several other persons who appear under the age. Circumstances matter, so be vigilant, especially when near locations with persons typically under the legal drinking age, such as college campuses.
Restricted locations:
🏫 Public or private school (K-12) (such as an elementary school);
📚 College campus (including a fraternity or sorority house);
🔒 Prison, reformatory, veterans’ home, or state capitol grounds;
🏬 Locker or similar package storage service (such as a storage facility);
🍷 Business that sells alcohol (like a grocery or liquor store);
📍 Dry Locations (which prohibit the sale of alcohol, like some areas in Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas & Kentucky).
If you arrive at a Consumer’s address with an alcohol order, and you see that the address is, or you reasonably suspect that it is, one of the above locations, you are legally required to refuse delivery. Follow the “Can’t complete delivery” instructions in your Dasher app which will provide prompts to keep you compliant.
What if no one is home?
Alcohol cannot, under ANY circumstances, be left unattended at a Consumer’s door.
Follow the "Consumer Unavailable” instructions and the Dasher app will prompt you to return the alcohol to the store / or properly dispose of the alcohol
Verifying a recipients identity?
Follow the steps in the Dasher app. Upon delivery, you’ll be prompted to scan the recipient’s physical ID. The flow looks like this:
⚠️#1: Ensure there is a successful scan in the app that indicates that the ID is valid
⚠️#2: Examine the ID to ensure that it is valid and matches the person in front of you (the recipient)
What is a successful scan vs. unsuccessful scan?
What to check a physical ID for…
Check that the photo and physical description on the ID match the recipient in front of you.
Note: The ID need only match the recipient, not the Consumer’s name on your Dasher app.
Confirm both the expiration date and the recipient’s date of birth.
Hold it to see if it’s been tampered with or if it looks fake.
How to spot a real vs. fake ID?
Valid ID | Fake ID |
Some states use raised text or embossed elements that you can feel on valid IDs. A valid ID will NOT include images of a lock or key. In some states, a valid ID can also include holographic images. These 3D images change when the ID is viewed at different angles. | The edges of a valid ID should be smooth and uniform, whereas the edges of a fake ID may be rougher or coming apart. Valid identification should NOT include words like 'genuine', 'souvenir', 'official', 'novelty', or 'authentic'. If the lamination is split, thin, or has bubbles, it may have been tampered with. Severely damaged IDs should not be accepted. |
Preventing delivery to intoxicated consumers:
Here are some common signs that someone’s had too much to drink and that delivery should not be completed:
Glassy or bloodshot eyes or difficulty keeping eyes open.
Breath or clothes smell of alcohol.
Unsteady on their feet, fumbling with objects, and/or slurring their words.
Note: Some of these signs may be associated with a disability, not a person’s intoxication level. Trust your judgment to assess whether the signs are associated with alcohol or not.
Only hand over the alcohol after having successfully completed the two ID checks and you’ve confirmed that the recipient is not intoxicated.
Note: In states that require a signature, you’ll also be prompted to collect the consumer’s signature
Use your best judgment.
🚨This is serious business. Law enforcement is watching. DoorDash and law enforcement conduct compliance checks for alcohol deliveries - sometimes using undercover customers - to help ensure alcohol is being delivered safely and legally.
This video shows an example of a Dasher receiving a citation because they handed the alcohol over before doing an ID check! Don’t be that Dasher!
Failing a compliance check could result in serious penalties, including
a criminal/civil offense,
jail time and/or fines, and
deactivation of your account.
Remember, we’re here to support you with information! If you have any questions before, during, or after a dash, get in touch with us through the Dasher app.
Step #3 (if applicable): Return Alcohol to Merchant
For orders that may not be delivered (for example, if no one meets you to accept delivery, or if the recipient is underage or intoxicated), you will be prompted to not complete delivery and instead remove the alcohol from the order.
After removing the age-restricted items from the original order, you may complete delivery of the other products. You’ll then be provided with step-by-step prompts back to the store and to process a return of the age-restricted items. You’ll be paid like it was a delivered order, with ADDITIONAL PAY or a successful return.
⚠️Returns are required by law in multiple states: Georgia, Louisiana, Washington, Virginia, New Jersey, and Manitoba, CAN.
New Jersey Dasher Requirements
Delivery Worker (i.e., each Dasher) acknowledges that, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 33:1-35 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act ("ABC Act"), as an independent contractor providing contracted services through the DoorDash Platform, governed by the DoorDash Independent Contractor Agreement and the Delivering Alcohol Guidelines included therein, he or she is required to cooperate with inspections and investigations conducted by any authorized representative of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control ("NJABC"), upon presentation of credentials, and to provide documentation or other items and information upon demand in accordance with the requirements of this permit, the ABC Act and regulations. Delivery Worker agrees to fully cooperate with any inspection or investigation by NJABC. Failure to cooperate with an inspection or investigation may result in administrative charges being issued against the Permittee (i.e., DoorDash).
Delivery Worker acknowledges that DoorDash is required to terminate its agreement for alcohol delivery with any Delivery Worker who violates this permit (i.e., DoorDash's third party alcohol delivery permit), the ABC Act or regulations.
Arkansas Dry Area Map
Arkansas prohibits deliveries of alcohol to dry areas. Dry areas, such as towns, are located within wet counties. Please see this linked map for a detailed description of the areas where alcohol deliveries may be completed or not.
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Frequently Ask Questions
What are the requirements for delivering alcohol? Dashers must be of legal drinking age and have a valid government-issued ID to deliver orders containing alcohol. Have your ID ready when you pick up the order—merchants will ask for it.
In certain states, Dashers must complete a compliance module, possess a delivery permit (to be issued by DoorDash), and/or undergo an additional background check.You can access the compliance module through your Dasher app under your ‘Account’ tab. DoorDash will notify you when you need a delivery permit or must undergo an added background check to be eligible to deliver alcohol
In states with no compliance module requirement, we still encourage Dashers to take the compliance module to help ensure you are equipped to make a safe and compliant alcohol delivery.
What forms of identification are acceptable?
Acceptable Identification | Unacceptable Identification |
State ID Card or Driver’s License U.S. Military ID U.S. Passport Foreign Country Passport | Non-government ID (ex. college ID or work ID) Credit Card Printed copy or photo of an ID Expired IDs |
How do I refuse to deliver the alcohol when I shouldn't because there is no one home, or the recipient is underage, intoxicated, etc.?
Politely tell the individual that you cannot deliver the alcohol.
Follow the instructions in your Dasher app which will guide you on what to do with the alcohol.
Should a potentially tricky situation arise, get to a safe location and call SafeDash or the police
