What You Need To Know About Transporting Alcohol During a Move

There’s a good chance you picked up a boozy pastime within the last few years. Approximately 1.4 million gallons of beer were homebrewed in 2017, accounting for 1% of the total beer market. 

And that was before the pandemic increased demand further. In 2020, the sales of home cocktail kits rose 40% over previous years, and the demand for DIY home bar drinks seems to be holding steady. 

But what happens when you need to move with all those bottles and all that equipment?

Whether it’s for a new job or to relocate somewhere with a lower cost of living, special consideration needs to be taken when loading and transporting your alcohol, especially across state lines. Read on for advice on how to preserve your labor of love when moving.

---

Moving Alcohol: Not as Simple as It Sounds

You might think that when it’s time to move, you can simply pack up your alcohol and hit the road. The truth is, there’s much more involved in the process. 

Every state has its own laws about transporting alcohol, especially when it comes to moving beer and spirits over state lines. Be sure to look into the laws in your state before making an alcohol haul, and if you’re looking to transport alcohol long distances, there are a few key environmental factors to keep in mind.

When you’re going across state lines, it’s more than a beer run  

There are many state and federal laws that govern the transport of alcohol. A single six-pack of beer or a couple of bottles of wine is generally considered “personal use” and is not subject to these laws. But if you’re an “enthusiast”, (meaning you have a higher volume of alcohol to transport) it’s important to know the rules.

 

“Beer should be kept between 37 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, and wine between 55 and 65 degrees.”

 

If you want to move beer, spirits, or wine long distances, check out this table for more detailed information on the regulations regarding the transportation and distribution of alcoholic beverages.

Alabama	The sale, possession, or transportation of 5 gallons of liquor or more within the state is considered a felony.
Alaska	No transport limitation on alcohol for personal use. However, anyone seeking to sell alcohol within the state must obtain a license.
Arizona	Requires anyone seeking to distribute or sell liquor, wine, or beer of any amount to obtain a license from the state.
Arkansas	Declares it unlawful to transport or distribute wine, spirits, or beer that didn’t originate within the state without a state-issued permit.
California	Allows transport of up to 60 liters for personal or household use. The law specifies international crossing, with no mention of interstate transport.
Colorado	Levies an excise tax for bringing any amount into the state above 4 liters.
Connecticut	Allows you to carry up to 5 gallons of liquor, beer, or wine into the state every 60 days, as long as the product originated within the territories or boundaries of the U.S. The limit is 5 gallons every 365 days for products originating outside of the U.S. Transport above the 5-gallon limit requires special permits.
Delaware	Allows the production of homemade alcoholic beverages of up to 200 gallons per calendar year. You may transport any amount for personal or family use, festivals, or beverage-tasting events.
Florida	Prohibits the transportation of alcoholic beverages of more than 12 bottles, with no specified volume limit. Common carriers and licensed transportation services are exempt from this statute but may require special permits.
Georgia	Differing requirements for in-state vs interstate transport. When transporting within the state, Georgia allows for 1/2 gallon of spirits, 576 fluid ounces of malt beverages, and 1/2 gallon of wine in most instances. When transporting from out of state, an excise tax is levied on amounts over 1 gallon of liquor, 2 standard cases of malt beverages, or 2 standard cases of wine.
Hawaii	Allows the production and sale of up to 200 gallons of liquor or wine, or 100 gallons of beer, as long as it’s produced and transported within the state. Hawaii requires a license for the transport of alcohol from outside the state.
Idaho	Allows transport of legally obtained alcohol with no specified volume limit, as long as the container’s seal isn’t broken.
Illinois	Requires express permission to any organization or individual seeking to bring more than 1 gallon of alcoholic drink per year into the state.
Indiana	Highly complex laws and provisions concerning the state’s transport and/or distribution of alcohol. Contact an Indiana legal professional for definitive answers regarding your specific alcohol transportation situation.
Iowa	Allows 9 liters of wine or liquor to enter the state per calendar month per person of legal age. For beer, this limit is 4.5 gallons.
Kansas	Requires a carrier to be bonded and hold a state-issued carrier permit to bring any amount of alcoholic beverage into the state, except for beer. State limitations regarding beer are vague. Consult a legal professional for specific laws concerning the transport of beer into and through Kansas.
Kentucky	Regulations regarding alcohol transport appear to apply only to common carriers. Consult a legal professional for specific laws concerning the transport of alcohol into and through Kentucky.
Louisiana	Prohibits removing microbrewed or micro-distilled beverages from being transported off the production premises for sale to any outside wholesaler or retailer.
Maine	Requires a license to bring alcohol into the state for personal use or resale, with no volume thresholds specified.
Maryland	Requires a permit to transport alcohol into or through the state from outside the state in any amount and for any purpose, including personal use.
Massachusetts	Requires a permit to transport alcohol into the state for any purpose, including personal use. The permit allows for the transport of any amount of alcohol for personal use.
Michigan	Allows 1 liter of liquor per 30-day period without prior approval. For alcohol at or below 21 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), the limit is 312 ounces per 30-day period.
Minnesota	Employs a 3-tier system that prohibits unlicensed importation of alcohol into the state, with some exceptions. Consult a legal professional for details about Minnesota liquor transportation exceptions.
Mississippi	Requires state-issued permits for the transportation of alcohol for distribution and sale in the state, with little reference to transportation for personal use.
Missouri	Allows the production and transport of up to 200 gallons of liquor or beer for personal use or use in public gatherings where the alcohol is consumed free of charge.
Montana	Allows transport of up to 1 gallon at a time into and through the state for family or personal use.
Nebraska	Allows transport of up to 9 liters of alcohol per calendar month for personal or family use. Any amount brought into the state for selling requires a state-issued permit.
Nevada	Permits the transport of up to 1 gallon of alcohol per month for personal use without a special license. Any alcohol brought into the state for selling requires a state-issued permit.
New Hampshire	Permits the transport of up to 3 quarts. Any alcohol under 6% ABV has no volume limit for personal or family consumption. Estate wineries and microbreweries may apply for a special license.
New Jersey	Permits transportation of up to 12 quarts of beer, ale, or porter, 1 gallon of wine, and 2 quarts of other alcoholic beverages within any consecutive 24-hour period for personal and family use.
New Mexico	Allows for the production, transportation, and sale of craft beers, wines, and spirits produced within the state. There are no evident laws concerning transport from out of state, apart from licensed distributors and carriers. Consult a legal professional for specific information regarding your alcohol transportation into or through New Mexico.
New York	Requires individuals who bring in beer, wine, or hard cider from another state for personal use to report the product on a tax form.
North Carolina	Allows transport of a maximum of 24 standard 750ml bottles of wine per month, 4 liters of spirits, and 80 liters of malt beverages, such as beer, into the state for personal or family use.
North Dakota	Permits the production and transport of up to 27 liters of wine, 85.17 liters of beer, and 9 liters of any other alcoholic beverage for personal or family use.
Ohio	Prohibits the transport or sale of alcohol from out of state without a permit, whether for commercial or personal use.
Oklahoma	Requires a permit to transport up to 200 gallons of alcohol annually into the state for personal use.
Oregon	Doesn’t prohibit the production of alcohol for personal or family use. No provisions could be found relating to the transport of alcoholic goods outside of commercial or common carrier requirements for mass distribution.
Pennsylvania	Prohibits the transportation of alcohol into the state, except with a license to ship sacramental wine, import, or operate as a direct wine shipper.
Rhode Island	Does not allow out-of-state distilleries to ship into the state. No provisions are available concerning transport for personal usage of any alcoholic product. Consult a legal professional for more detailed information concerning transporting alcohol into or through Rhode Island.
South Carolina	Statutes pertain to the commercial shipment of beer, wine, and spirits, with no mention of transportation for personal use.
South Dakota	Allows for 200 gallons of homemade malt beverages, cider, or wine per year to be produced and transported within the state. Statutes make no mention of transport from out of state.
Tennessee	Allows the production and transportation of up to 100 gallons per year, so long as the product isn’t produced for selling.
Texas	Allows 288 fluid ounces of malt beverages, 3 gallons of wine, and 1 gallon of distilled spirits to be transported into the state for personal use. Amounts exceeding the specified limits require a permit.
Utah	Allows residents to bring up to 9 gallons of alcohol into the state without penalty, as long as it’s for personal use. Consult a legal professional if you’re from out of state, and looking to transport alcohol into Utah.
Vermont	Allows transport of 8 quarts (2 gallons) of wine, liquor, or both, and 6 gallons of malt beverage without obtaining a permit, as long as it’s for private use and moved in a personal vehicle.
Virginia	Allows up to 3 gallons of wine, spirits, or beer to be transported into and throughout the state for personal use.
Washington	Allows transport of up to 2 liters of spirits, wine, hard cider, or 288 ounces of beer from another state per calendar month without requiring a license, as long as it’s for personal consumption and not for sale.
West Virginia	Says nothing about the transportation of alcohol into and within the Commonwealth.
Wisconsin	Allows you to bring any amount into the state as personal goods if you move from another state or country. If you’re returning from a visit to another country, you’re permitted to bring 4 liters home with you. Transport from out of state for any use requires a state-issued permit.
Wyoming	Allows transport of 3 liters of liquor, 9 liters of wine, or 5 gallons of malt beverage into the state at any time for personal consumption.

This article’s representation of laws or statutes is according to the author’s best understanding. The author of this article holds no degree or certification in law for any state. Seek qualified legal counsel before attempting to transport any amount of wine, beer, or spirits across state lines.

Keep in mind, laws regarding the transport of hard spirits often differ from laws pertaining to wine or beer.

Can you put alcohol in a moving truck?

In general, you should avoid loading large amounts of alcohol into a moving truck. Wine and beer are especially susceptible to variations in temperature, and moving trucks have notoriously bad climate control in the cargo areas. It’s best to transport it in your own vehicle if you can.

However, some moving companies may let you load up your alcohol with your other belongings on the truck. It depends on where you’re located, where you’re traveling, and the specific policy of that company.

If it’s not allowed, avoid any temptation to sneak your alcohol on — that can have legal repercussions if you or the moving van driver are pulled over and discovered. Plus, if the containers break and the alcohol damages your other property, the moving company has no liability and there’s no way to recoup your loss.

If you have a very large collection of alcohol and absolutely can’t transport it any other way, you might want to look into hiring a specialized moving truck. 

 

Making Sure You Don’t Lose a Single Drop

If you’re a wine, whiskey, or cocktail enthusiast looking to move the contents of your home bar, keep in mind that you’ll want to ensure your alcohol reaches its destination in the same shape as when it left. If your alcohol isn’t properly stored, packed, and insured, you could be looking at an expensive accident waiting to happen. Keep the following in mind when transporting your alcohol. 

Know (and protect) what your collection is worth

Liquor can get pricey. A collection of rare wines and spirits is comparable to fine art in value (just take this bottle of Macallan that sold for a record $1.9 million!). One-of-a-kind or extremely rare bottles of vintage wine or exotic spirits are irreplaceable. 

If you own any alcohol that you know is rare or unique, it can be a good idea to hire an appraiser. Then look into buying insurance. 

 

“Though storing your wine tilted neck-down…keep[s] the cork from drying, transporting your wine this way poses a greater spill risk. But you can prevent both problems by making sure relative humidity stays at 70% during transport.”

 

If you have one or more bottles valued at $500 or more, seek out insurance for your collection. You can even do by-the-bottle floater coverage, which rarely includes a deductible. If your collection doesn’t valuate higher than $1,000, check your homeowner’s policy if you have one. Wine and liquor collections often count toward personal property in cases of fire or break-ins.

It’s also recommended that you hire movers with experience handling high-value objects and collections. If your collection isn’t valued high enough to merit the cost of specialized movers, consider moving the collection in your personal vehicle.

Keep things cool, and consider temperature control

Whenever you move alcohol, keep the temperature of your cargo in mind. Several unpleasant situations will likely occur if your boozy cargo gets too hot. 

Alcohol expands as it gets warmer, putting pressure on its container’s interior. Wine bottles might end up popping their corks, beer and liquor bottles might shatter if the pressure gets too high, and spilled alcohol in a confined compartment becomes a fire hazard. Beer should be kept between 37 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, and wine between 55 and 65 degrees.

Hire a thermal-controlled moving truck to haul your valuable collection or stock up on thermal containers — such as coolers or insulated crates — to store your haul.

Also, keep clear and light-colored bottles out of the light as much as possible. Ever had a skunky beer? That’s the result of UV light mixing with chemicals produced by boiled hops. Sunlight has a similarly damaging effect on wine, whiskey, and other spirits.

Liquid should stay INSIDE the bottles  

It may seem like a no-brainer, but leaks and spills are a huge concern when moving alcohol. Not only does it cause a fire hazard and monetary loss, but it’s also going to make a big mess. If you have any bottles that you’ve already opened, the likelihood of a potential spill or leak only increases. In addition, when air gets in, oxidation occurs. Wine turns to vinegar and beer tastes like old pennies.

With wine, securely recorking the bottle is sufficient when it’s stationary. If you’re transporting it, consider silicone stoppers, as they form an airtight seal. Along with a wire cork hood, you can secure the contents of a bottle for peace of mind.

If you’re carrying opened bottles of spirits, the cap they came with should be enough to keep the contents from spilling.

Also, keep in mind that most states have open container laws, making it illegal to carry unsealed alcohol containers anywhere except in a trunk or cargo space — no matter how securely your containers are capped. 

Have the right materials for the job 

As we mentioned earlier, moving your wine, beer, and spirits isn’t as simple as tossing it all into a box and getting underway. You’ll want to pack them so they arrive safely at your destination. For ease of travel and peace of mind, obtain quality packaging and break-proofing materials.

• Wine moving boxes: You can find boxes designed to hold and ship wine from major retailers such as Amazon. U-Haul also provides wine shipping kits that come with extra secure Styrofoam inserts 
• Bubble wrap: If you aren’t using a specialized shipper, plenty of bubble wrap around bottles will help protect them. Cardboard dividers will also help keep bottles from clinking together
• Thermal shipper: A product like this one will help keep beverages cold while being transported
• Ice: If you’re using a cooler, you can pack it with plenty of ice to keep the contents cool. The 99 Cents Only Store is a great place to get ice cheap
• Packing tape: Make sure your boxes/shippers are sealed tightly so that the contents can’t break free

 

How Do I Pack…?

Wine bottles

At the very least, wrap each bottle individually with bubble wrap and use packing paper or separators to keep them stable. Your best bet is to pack in dedicated wine bottle shippers, and to keep them tightly packed in an upright position in a thermal crate or cooler. 

Though storing your wine tilted neck-down is recommended to keep the cork from drying, transporting your wine this way poses a greater spill risk. But you can prevent both problems by making make sure relative humidity stays at 70% during transport.

Beer bottles

Wrap each bottle with packing paper or bubble wrap and place it into individual shippers, or pack tightly in a box of appropriate size. Line the box with a cardboard separator for additional insurance against clanging and breaking.

Cans are a bit more forgiving, but you should take care to ensure there’s plenty of padding between the cans and the wall of the container.

Liquor bottles

Make sure every bottle is securely capped. Wrap each bottle in newspaper or packing paper, and tape the paper together securely. Pack the bottles tightly in a box of appropriate size, and stuff any gaps with packing paper to prevent jostling around. 

 

“If you have one or more bottles valued at $500 or more, seek out insurance for your collection. You can even do by-the-bottle floater coverage, which rarely includes a deductible.”

 

Keep in mind that liquor bottles can be heavy and come in varying, sometimes awkward shapes. Avoid overpacking boxes so that they aren’t too heavy, and try to group bottles of similar size together.

Glassware and bar equipment 

Here’s where cardboard dividers especially come in handy. Insert a divider into an appropriately sized box. Place stemware, tumblers, and your other glassware into each cell of the divider and stuff the space liberally with packing paper. If you have particularly delicate and/or valuable crystal glassware, it may be worth investing in specialized shippers, similar to ones for wine bottles.

Homebrewing and alcohol accessories are often made of sturdier plastic and metal. Pack your accessories together, but apart from your glasses and bottles. If you have a bar cart, remove the casters if possible. Move it along with other furniture and home appliances.

---

Moving alcohol across state lines can be tricky. Unless you have a valuable wine or liquor collection, it might be best to leave your alcohol behind if you move and buy all new bottles once you settle into your new place.

But if you are planning on transporting your collection, either because it’s very valuable or you’re in the homebrewing hobby, make sure you consult legal counsel regarding the movement of alcoholic beverages into that state, and you pack your bottles and equipment properly.