Can Liquor Be Bought Legally Online In New York?

People in New York have been able to buy things like wine and beer online, but can you buy spirits like vodka, whiskey, and bourbon online?

Normally when you hear about new laws here in New York, it means that life is about to get a little more difficult.  But that's not the case with this one.  This legislation actually makes things easier for you, and helps out small businesses in New York State. (Weird, right?)

In the past, if you tried to buy liquor online, you wouldn't be able to.  It was illegal to ship distilled spirits through the mail.  However, a lot of people don't know that you can now.  The new law took effect on November 19, 2024.  The legislation (Senate Bill S2852A/A. 3132A) was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul last August to expand direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping rights for distilleries, cideries, and meaderies.  

Can You Buy Hard Liquor Online In New York?

What does that mean for you?  It means that if you fall in love with a specific brand of whiskey from a distillery halfway across the state and you run out, you don't have to wait until you can plan another road trip to get more.  If their business can support it, you can go online to order more and have it shipped directly to your house.

What does it mean for the distilleries?  It means that they will have a chance to expand their reach to people all across the state (and other states where we can ship alcohol).  They can now ship up to 36 cases (no more than 9 liters per case) of distilled spirits, cider, mead, and more per year directly to a New York resident for personal use.  That's extra money that they'll be able to make.

One thing to note is that this legislation covers shipping from manufacturers.  It does not allow for general liquor stores to ship directly to customers.

Now, there's an app that will help you find New York State Distilleries too.  So if you want to order from them without even visiting, you can find them and order online.