By providing customers with the convenience of ordering alcohol delivery on DoorDash with their food orders, you can easily increase order volume. In fact, according to the 2023 DoorDash Alcohol Online Ordering Trends Report, 54% of consumers prefer online shopping for alcoholic beverages. As alcohol laws vary by state/region, please check your local guidelines.
Why should I offer alcohol in my store?
By including your in-store alcohol offerings on your DoorDash menu to reach consumers, you can help increase online sales, and make your restaurant stand out. In fact, 56% of millennials and 45% of Gen Z adults say the option of including alcohol with a takeout or delivery order would make them more likely to choose one restaurant over another. The benefits of including alcohol on your DoorDash menu include:
Built-in compliance measures: ID checks in the platform allow for compliant alcohol delivery. DoorDash has all required permits for alcohol delivery.
Sales growth: Adding alcohol to your menu can increase your profit margin.
How alcohol delivery works for restaurants
Adding alcohol delivery on your DoorDash menu can boost profits due to higher margins, creative food-drink pairings, and reduced waste compared to perishable ingredients. Here’s how it works for restaurants:
Consumer Ordering: Consumers browse your offerings on your website using Storefront or the DoorDash app.
Dasher requirement: You will need to check the Dasher’s ID at each pickup to make sure they are of legal drinking age.
Age Verification: DoorDash utilizes advanced technology to help validate a consumer’s ID and check that the ID is for an individual of legal drinking age. Additionally, Dashers perform a physical check of each ID, comparing the ID against the consumer to help ensure the ID matches, and also checks the ID for any evidence of fraud.
Undeliverable Orders: Where a consumer is underage, visibly intoxicated, or not present at the delivery time, the Dasher is prompted to not deliver the order.
How do I offer alcohol in my DoorDash store?
If you’re considering expanding your restaurant's offering to include alcohol, you will need to do the following:
Make sure you already have a valid liquor license to facilitate alcohol delivery in your state. You are required to have the appropriate license that allows alcohol delivery in order to add alcohol to your menu.
Go to your menu manager in the Merchant Portal, scroll down the page, and click “Review the required steps.”
Sign the alcohol addendum and fill out the required information.
Add alcohol items to your menu and ensure the alcohol tag is applied to each individual item.
3 Tips to increase your alcohol delivery sales
Here are the three tips to keep in mind when adding alcohol to your menu to help you succeed.
1. Advertise your alcohol delivery offerings
Promote your alcohol delivery services effectively by using on-premise signage, updating your DoorDash item descriptions, engaging on social media, and leveraging DoorDash marketing promotions.
2. Consider the Latest Drinking Trends
Stay ahead by offering creative food and drink pairings, seasonal specials, and staying updated on trends like low-ABV drinks, hard seltzer mixes, and niche beverages to attract diverse customers. In fact, according to the 2023 DoorDash Alcohol Online Ordering Trends Report, there has been a 5X growth in online delivery orders of ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, vodka, and tequila from 2021-2022.
3. Implement Dasher Pickup Best Practices
Verify Dasher IDs to ensure they are 21+ before handing off orders, seek their input for smoother pickups, and explore tips for improving the Dasher pickup experience from both Dashers and experienced business owners.
If you want to learn more, head over to Selling Alcohol on DoorDash.
Alcohol Delivery on DoorDash FAQ
Where is DoorDash able to facilitate alcohol delivery?
Marketplace Alcohol Delivery
Alcohol delivery via DoorDash Marketplace is currently available only in the following locations:
In the US: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota**, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee**, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico
In Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick***, Ontario, and Quebec***
In Australia: New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland
In New Zealand: Wellington***, Christchurch***, and Auckland***
** In these jurisdictions DoorDash Marketplace does not currently facilitate alcohol delivery from restaurants.
*** In these jurisdictions, DoorDash Marketplace currently only facilitates alcohol delivery from restaurants.
Drive Alcohol Delivery
Alcohol delivery via DoorDash Drive is currently available only in the following locations:
In the US: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho,Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts**, Michigan, Minnesota**, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey**, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee**, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico
In Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec***
In Australia: New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria
** In these jurisdictions DoorDash Drive does not currently facilitate alcohol delivery from restaurants.
*** In these jurisdictions, DoorDash Drive currently only facilitates alcohol delivery from restaurants.
The scope of delivery options vary by jurisdiction. All retailers are encouraged to consult their retail permit and local laws to confirm whether off-premises delivery is permitted and if so for what types of beverages and under what conditions.
What are the driver requirements for Dashers delivering alcohol?
Dashers must be of legal drinking age to be assigned an alcohol order (21+ in the US, 18+ in AUS and NZ, and 18+ or 19+ in CA, depending on the province). Some jurisdictions have additional requirements for Dashers, such as completing an alcohol safety module prior to being able to deliver alcohol.
Adding alcohol to your DoorDash menu is a great way to increase order volume, while helping your restaurant stand out. In fact, one in ten consumers have ordered alcohol delivery on DoorDash in the past 6 months and nearly 7 in 10 order alcohol online at least monthly.
Ready for the next lesson? Learn how to grow online with DoorDash.
