State laws, age verification, hidden fees, and selection vary wildly across DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Here's exactly where to order alcohol for the best price and fastest delivery.
DoorDash Alcohol
Widest availability
Instacart
Lower service fees
Regional Specialty
Wine/craft spirits
Alcohol delivery is heavily regulated. Every state has different rules about who can deliver, what can be delivered, and minimum age verification requirements. On top of that, each platform enforces its own restrictions. This makes alcohol delivery one of the most complicated verticals on food delivery apps.
Key reality: Not all platforms operate in all states. DoorDash Alcohol works in 45 states, but Uber Eats and Grubhub have much smaller footprints. Check availability in your location first.
✓ Beer ✓ Wine ✓ Liquor ✓ Mixers ✓ Available in 45 states
Availability: DoorDash Alcohol is available in 45 US states (all except Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Utah, South Carolina). This is by far the widest availability of any platform.
Selection: 500-2,000+ spirits, wines, and beers per market (varies by city). Major cities (NYC, LA, SF) have 2,000+ options; smaller markets 200-500.
Age Verification: ID check at delivery. Driver scans ID or verifies age photo. Takes 1-2 minutes at delivery.
Delivery Speed: 15-45 minutes. Similar to food delivery, sometimes faster because alcohol stores are concentrated.
Fees: $3.99-$7.99 delivery + 15-20% service fee. No minimum order, but alcohol orders average $35-50.
✓ Beer ✓ Wine ~ Limited states (19 states)
Availability: Uber Eats alcohol delivery is available in only 19 states: California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Texas, and others. NOT in most of the South, Midwest, or Mountain West.
Selection: 300-800+ options per market. Limited compared to DoorDash.
Age Verification: ID check at delivery (similar process to DoorDash).
Delivery Speed: 20-50 minutes (similar to DoorDash but slightly slower in some markets).
Fees: $4.99-$9.99 delivery + 15-22% service fee. Slightly higher than DoorDash in many markets.
✓ Beer ✓ Wine ~ 8 states only
Availability: Grubhub alcohol delivery is available in only 8 states: California, Illinois, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, Arizona, Colorado. This is the smallest footprint of all three.
Selection: 200-600 options per market (most limited).
Age Verification: Standard ID check at delivery.
Delivery Speed: 25-60 minutes (slowest option).
Fees: $5.99-$10.99 delivery + 18-25% service fee (highest fees of all three).
✓ Beer ✓ Wine ~ All 50 states (limited stores)
Availability: Instacart delivers beer and wine from Whole Foods, Kroger, and Safeway in all 50 states where Instacart operates (most US). Limited to participating stores.
Selection: 100-400 options per store (limited vs. dedicated alcohol stores, but good selection of popular brands).
Age Verification: Driver confirms age with ID at delivery (same as above).
Delivery Speed: 30-120 minutes (slower, depends on store availability).
Fees: $3.99-$4.99 delivery (lower!) + 5-10% service fee for Instacart+ members (MUCH cheaper). Best option for price-sensitive buyers.
Quick Reference by Platform Availability:
| Region | DoorDash | Uber Eats | Grubhub | Instacart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast (NY, PA, MA) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (NY, PA) | ✅ Yes |
| Southeast (FL, GA, NC) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (FL) | ✅ Yes (FL) | ✅ Yes |
| Midwest (IL, OH, MI) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (IL) | ✅ Yes (IL) | ✅ Yes |
| West Coast (CA, WA, OR) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (CA, WA) | ✅ Yes |
| Mountain (CO, AZ, UT) | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Yes (CO, AZ) | ✅ Yes |
| South/Restricted (AL, MS, KY, UT) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | Limited |
Note: Availability changes frequently. Check the app in your location to confirm alcohol delivery is supported.
Real Price Example: Wine Delivery (Pinot Grigio, $18 bottle)
| App | Bottle Price | Delivery | Service Fee | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoorDash | $18.00 | $4.99 | $3.16 | $1.73 | $27.88 |
| Uber Eats | $18.00 | $5.99 | $3.70 | $1.73 | $29.42 |
| Grubhub | $18.00 | $6.99 | $4.32 | $1.73 | $31.04 |
| Instacart+ | $18.00 | $3.99 | $0.90 | $1.73 | $24.62 |
Result: For wine delivery, Instacart+ is 12-26% cheaper than DoorDash, and DoorDash is 5-10% cheaper than Uber Eats and Grubhub.
How It Works Across All Platforms:
⚠ Important: Have a valid government ID (driver's license, passport, state ID) ready at delivery. Underage household members cannot accept the delivery. If you're unsure someone will be home, reschedule.
DoorDash Alcohol Discounts
• First order: $10 off, code DRINKMORE
• Pass members: Additional $2-5 off
• Occasional: $5 off $30+ (varies by region)
Uber Eats Alcohol Discounts
• Pass members: $2-3 off (limited)
• Rare: $5 off orders (seasonal promotions)
• Best value: Use Uber Cash from other orders
Instacart+ Advantage
• Membership: $99/year (includes free delivery)
• Flat 5-10% service fee (vs. 15-25% without Pass)
• Lowest delivery fee ($3.99 flat)
• Best long-term value for frequent orders
Tip 1: Check availability first. Many popular markets only have DoorDash or Instacart. Don't assume all three work in your area.
Tip 2: Instacart+ saves the most money long-term if you order beer/wine regularly. For occasional orders, Instacart is still best value.
Tip 3: Order from specialty/local liquor stores on DoorDash for better selection and sometimes lower prices than big-box options.
Tip 4: Bundle alcohol with other groceries on Instacart to save on overall delivery fees (30-minute delivery windows reduce per-item cost).
Tip 5: Alcohol orders are faster during peak times (Friday/Saturday evenings). Off-peak orders may take 45+ minutes.
🥇 Best Overall: DoorDash Alcohol
Widest availability (45 states), largest selection, competitive fees, most reliable. Use this as your primary if it works in your area.
💰 Best Price: Instacart+ Members
Lowest fees, flat delivery cost ($3.99), and 5-10% service fee. Worth the $99/year membership if you order more than once every 2 months.
📍 Regional Alternative: Uber Eats or Grubhub
Use only if DoorDash isn't available. Expect to pay 5-15% more and accept slower delivery times.
Last updated: August 22, 2026. State restrictions and platform availability change frequently — verify current support in your area before ordering.
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