Toast Delivery Services® Alcohol Delivery

Delivery partners need to understand if an item is alcoholic to require ID upon delivery. Below, you'll learn how to bulk-label your alcoholic menu items in Toast Web to get started with alcohol delivery. Plus, learn how Toast can help you inform your guests that certain menu items contain alcohol and that they must present a government-issued identification card to receive the order.
 

With this menu feature, eligible Toast customers can: 

• Sell alcoholic menu items through pickup and delivery services
• Eliminate the need for manually tagging items as "alcoholic" in the partner portal

In this Article:

• Toast Restaurant Alcohol Delivery Terms
  • States Where Alcohol Delivery is Allowed
• Setting Up Alcohol Delivery with Toast Online Ordering and Local by Toast
  • Bulk Label Menu Items in Setup Checklist 
• ID Verification Experience
  • Preventing Delivery to Underage Guests
  • Acceptable Forms of ID
• Deliver Alcohol With Your Own Drivers
• FAQ

Toast Restaurant Alcohol Delivery Terms

Merchants that offer alcohol delivery through Toast Delivery Services® are responsible for properly tagging all alcoholic items and must hold sufficient licenses to sell alcoholic beverages and offer them for delivery. 

States Where Toast Delivery Services® Alcohol Delivery is Allowed

Alcohol delivery is only available via Toast Delivery Services® in the following states:

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Set Up Alcohol Delivery with Toast Online Ordering and Local by Toast

Follow the instructions below to set up alcohol delivery on your Online Ordering page and the Local by Toast app through Toast Delivery Services®.

Note: To individually label alcoholic menu items, visit Label Menu Items as Alcoholic. 
 

Bulk Label Menu Items in Setup Checklist 

Note: Make sure that the alcoholic beverages you want to offer for delivery on Online Ordering and Local by Toast are visible to Online Ordering: Toast. Learn how here. 
 

1. Select Offer alcohol for delivery (optional) on the Setup Checklist in Toast Web.
   
   
2. Bulk-label your menu items that contain alcohol. Toast will surface menu items from your online ordering menu containing alcohol. Labeling your alcoholic beverages identifies whether the menu item contains alcohol in cases where orders containing alcohol benefit from additional handling. For example, local laws might require an ID check or prevent the accrual of loyalty points.
   • Select the menu items that contain alcohol. Uncheck the menu items that don’t contain alcohol.
     • Note: Items Toast thinks to contain alcohol will be automatically selected.
   • Select Yes to indicate that the menu item or modifier contains alcohol and requires additional handling. Select No to indicate that the menu item or modifier does not require additional handling.
     • For example, choose Yes for items such as Red Wine and Beer, but No for items such as Bananas Foster or Rum Cake.
   • Read Toast's alcohol delivery terms and select I agree.
   • Select Continue.
     
     Note:  If items are missing or you need to add more items, you can label them as containing alcohol from your Menus. See Label Menus as Alcoholic for more information.
     
     
3. Select Finish. 
   
   
4.  Select Publish to have these changes reflected on the relevant partners.

ID Verification Experience

If you use Toast Delivery Services, a delivery driver will scan the front of your guests’ ID to verify their identity and confirm they are over 21 years of age before completing a delivery that includes one or more alcoholic beverages. The delivery may be completed after verifying the guest's identity and checking for any signs of intoxication. 

Note: In states that require a signature, you’ll be prompted to collect the guest’s signature.

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Prevent Delivery to Underage Guests

Rules in the United States: 

• By law, you must be 21 years or older to purchase, possess, or consume alcohol in the United States.
• People under the age of 21 may not purchase or receive alcohol.
• People 21 or older may not purchase alcohol on behalf of someone under the age of 21.

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Acceptable Forms of ID

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Deliver Alcohol With Your Own Drivers

While you can label your menu items as containing alcohol and inform your guests that these menu items contain alcohol on your online ordering menu, the legal requirements for delivery of alcoholic beverages vary from one area to another. When using your own delivery drivers, Toast Delivery Services features designed to help support certain compliance obligations are not available. It is always solely your responsibility to be aware of and ensure your deliveries comply with any local and national rules and regulations related to the delivery of alcohol. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What if nothing shows up on the bulk alcohol labeling page?

Make sure that all alcoholic beverages you would like to offer for delivery are visible on your online ordering menu. Learn more about Online Ordering visibility here.

What if my alcoholic beverages don’t show up on my Online Ordering page?

Make sure that all alcoholic beverages you would like to offer for delivery are visible on your online ordering menu. Learn more about Online Ordering visibility here.

What if I add new alcoholic beverages to my menu?

If items are missing or you need to add more items, you can label them as containing alcohol from your Menus. 

When will a delivery driver refuse to deliver alcoholic beverages?

• If a delivery driver suspects that a guest is underage or intoxicated, they always have the right to refuse delivery of alcohol. 
• If a delivery driver is suspicious that the guest is using a fake ID or is intoxicated, they will not deliver alcoholic products to the guest. 
• If a delivery driver suspects that a guest is accepting the delivery on behalf of someone else who is underage, they will refuse delivery. 

What happens if a driver refuses to deliver alcoholic beverages?

The driver will return the alcoholic items to the restaurant.

What happens if the guest is not home?

Alcohol cannot, under any circumstances, be left unattended at a guest’s door. The driver will return the alcohol to the restaurant. For orders that also contain non-alcoholic items, the driver may leave the non-alcohol items, but the alcohol items must be returned.

Can alcohol still be delivered if I enable the contactless delivery checkbox for my deliveries?

No, alcohol can not be delivered if you enable the contactless delivery checkbox, as the driver will not be able to verify that guests are 21+ by verifying their government-issued ID cards at the time of delivery.

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This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, accounting, tax, HR, or any other professional advice. Alcohol delivery is available only in select markets. Restaurants that offer alcohol delivery through Toast Delivery Services are responsible for complying with local laws and rules regarding the sale and delivery of alcohol, including, without limitation, holding sufficient licenses and properly tagging all alcoholic menu items. Please contact an attorney or other professional for specific advice based on your unique circumstances.