As well as a good ol' cuppa, we Brits do love the occasional tipple! Be it a bottle of bubbly, a glittery glass of gin, or an aromatic ale, sending alcohol has never been more in demand.
Interparcel can help deliver alcohol to your friends, family, or customers, no matter where they live. Our partnership with APC and Parcelforce lets you ship your chosen beverage far and wide. However, sending alcohol does require a bit of ex-beer-ience before booking. (We haven't had a drink, promise!)
So, let's pour a glass and read our quick guide to sending alcohol with Interparcel:
Can I send all types of alcohol?
The short answer is no. (but don't fret!)
APC and Parcelforce will not accept any alcoholic beverages that exceed 70% alcohol by volume (ABV).
However, unless you are an avid fan of some absinthe for example, you have a wide range of drinks to choose from such as:
✔ Gin, vodka, and rum ranging between 24-70%
✔ Beer, wine and champagne (or prosecco) ranging between 0-24%
Can I send alcohol in the UK with APC?
You can send alcohol with APC on the APC Liquid or APC Liquid Saturday service. Parcels booked on this service are sorted by hand, held in separate cages and handled by trained APC staff to maximise protection in transit. You can ship a max of 20 liquid items per parcel.
Can I send alcohol in the UK with Parcelforce?
Yes, you can! But there are some rules:
✔ Alcohol that ranges between 0%-24% (e.g., wine, beer, champagne or prosecco) allowed on the Parcelforce 48 Liquid Drop Off service or Parcelforce Express 48 Liquid. Volume cannot exceed 1 litre per item. Maximum of 5 litres per parcel.
✔ Alcohol that ranges between 24-70% (e.g., gin, rum, vodka) (via Parcelforce 48 Liquid Drop off only) through Interparcel. Volume cannot exceed 1 litre per item. Max 2 items in one box.
X Alcoholic beverages that exceed 70% alcohol by volume (ABV)
You can send liquid on the regular Parcelforce services but no transit cover or guarantees will apply to these items.
Can I send alcohol internationally?
Yes, but only with Parcelforce international delivery services, and the rules are stricter.
✔ Alcohol that ranges between 0%-24% (e.g., wine, beer, champagne or prosecco) Volume cannot exceed 1 litre per item. Maximum of 5 litres per parcel.
X Alcohol that ranges between 24-70% (e.g., gin, rum, vodka)
X Alcoholic beverages that exceed 70% alcohol by volume (ABV)
What services are available?
Depending on the urgency of your delivery, APC and Parcelforce offer a range of reliable services at affordable prices. So, your sister in Manchester could be enjoying a holiday spirit the very next day! Here are just some of the services they offer:
UK Delivery
APC Liquid: Specialist liquid service ideal for sending items like beer and wine. Available for UK shipments only. APC Liquid Saturday is also available for weekend deliveries.
Parcelforce 48 Liquid Drop Off: A Parcelforce Liquid Drop Off service is an excellent option if you prefer sending on the go. You can drop off your parcel at one of over 11,500 Post Offices or Parcelforce depots across the UK at a time and date that works around your schedule. See where your nearest Drop Off point is.
Parcelforce Express 9 & Parcelforce Express 10: You can select either of these Express services for a premium delivery to most UK mainland. With delivery scheduled for the very next working day, you can have your parcel collected from your door and shipped to your recipient faster than you can say TEQUILA!
Parcelforce Express 24: If you're happy to wait until 5 pm for your receiver to crack upon a beer with the boys, then the Parcelforce Express 24 Next Day service might be the service for you.
Worldwide Delivery
Parcelforce Euro Economy: From only £14.70, your parcel can be delivered in 2-7 days and collected straight from your door.
Parcelforce Global Priority: If your bottle of wine is destined to be enjoyed in sunnier climates, our Parcelforce Global Priority service will aim to send your package in 2-12 days.
Alongside collection options, Parcelforce offer some international Drop Off services too.
As of January 2021, a printer is required for all international services. If you need assistance filling out a Customs form, check out our blog.
How much is delivery likely to cost?
The price of a quote depends on the size, weight and destination you intend to send to. If you have the address on hand, you can get an exact quote for your delivery here.
To give you an idea:
- a bottle of wine typically measures 8 cm in diameter and are about 30.5 cm tall
- a bottle of champagne or prosecco measures 8-9 cm in diameter and closer to 31-32 cm tall
Price, of course, depends on packaging on top of this, but based on these measurements and a 0.5kg weight, we can estimate the shipping costs below to give you an idea:
Sending a bottle of wine at this size will approximately cost:
- £17.35 inc. VAT with APC Liquid*
- £15.30 inc. VAT with Parcelforce 48 Liquid Drop Off*
How should I package alcohol for shipping?
To make sure your Martini is the only thing shaken, ensure that your alcohol is sufficiently packaged and encased in cardboard. Here is a step-by-step guide below:
1) First things first, check that you're packaging no more than two bottles in the same parcel to avoid the risk of breakage. Any items that are wet, leaking or emit an odour cannot be shipped.
2) Wrap each bottle in polythene and seal with tape
3) Fill the space in the box with more protective materials and cushioning to prevent any movement of the contents while in transit
4) Securely tape the box with parcel tape along the edges of the box
5) Affix your address label on the box along with other relevant documentation like a Customs declaration form if you are shipping abroad
6) You are ready to send!
Send with Interparcel today
All shipments booked through us come with full-online tracking from collection right through to delivery so you can be confident that your alcohol is in safe hands when shipping in the UK and abroad. You will be given a unique tracking number at the time of booking that you can share with the receiver if you want them to monitor their package's journey.
Ready to send your alcohol with us? It's simple to book; all you need to do is enter your parcel details via our Quote Tool for an instant list of reputable courier services.
If you have any questions about sending alcohol through one of our APC or Parcelforce shipping services, our delivery experts are available from 8 am - 8 pm Monday – Friday, and 9 am - 1 pm on weekends.
Cheers to that!
*Quote generated on 02/06/2023
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational use only. You should always conduct your own research to verify the accuracy of this content. The information was accurate at the time of writing but may be subject to change.
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