Can You Ship Alcohol in Ontario?
Yes — but it comes with strict rules. Whether you're a licensed brewery, winery, distillery, or a retail store with delivery privileges, shipping alcohol in Ontario requires compliance with the Liquor Licence and Control Act (LLCA) and regulations set by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
The key requirement is simple: you must verify the recipient is 19 years of age or older before handing over the package. No exceptions.
Who Can Ship Alcohol in Ontario?
Not just anyone can ship alcohol. You need to be one of the following:
- Licensed manufacturers — breweries, wineries, distilleries with an AGCO licence
- Authorized grocery and convenience stores — with AGCO approval for delivery
- Licensed restaurants — under specific pandemic-era and permanent provisions
- Online marketplace operators — with proper licensing
If you hold the proper licence, you can use a third-party delivery service like Weels to handle the physical delivery — as long as age verification is performed at the door.
Age Verification Requirements
This is the most critical part. Ontario law requires that every alcohol delivery must include age verification at the point of handoff. The driver must:
- Ask for valid, government-issued photo ID (Ontario driver's licence, passport, or BYID card)
- Confirm the recipient is 19 years of age or older
- Refuse delivery if the recipient cannot produce valid ID or appears intoxicated
At Weels, our drivers are trained on age verification procedures. When a shipment is flagged as age-restricted, the driver's app requires an ID check before the package can be marked as delivered. If the check fails, the package is returned — no exceptions.
Packaging Requirements
Alcohol shipments should be packaged to prevent breakage and leakage. Best practices include:
- Use sturdy, corrugated boxes with dividers for bottles
- Wrap each bottle individually in bubble wrap or foam
- Seal the box securely — no visible branding is required but many shippers prefer discreet packaging
- Label the package as age-restricted so the courier knows to perform ID verification
How Weels Handles Alcohol Delivery
Weels makes compliant alcohol delivery simple:
- Age verification built into the driver app — drivers check government-issued ID at the door before releasing the package
- Same-day delivery, 7 days a week — orders placed before 11 AM ET are delivered the same day
- Real-time tracking — your customers can follow the delivery from pickup to doorstep
- Photo proof of delivery — timestamped photo at the door for your records
- Integration with your store — connect via Shopify, WooCommerce, Square, or our REST API
Starting at $16 per package across the GTA. No minimums, no contracts.
Get Started
If you're a licensed alcohol retailer or manufacturer in Ontario, Weels can handle your same-day delivery with full age verification compliance. Sign up for free or contact us to learn more.