Beverage Alcohol Tax Compliance in 2025: What Wineries, Distilleries, and Breweries Need to Know

Selling products online is never one-size-fits-all—and two of the toughest segments of eCommerce are navigating restricted product categories and managing complex tax compliance. If you're a winery, distillery, or brewery selling alcohol online, you’re operating at the intersection of both challenges. Talk about complicated! But don’t stress—we’re here to help.

At the crossroads of regulated eCommerce and compliance, we’ve helped merchants like you stay on the right side of the law while building thriving online businesses. Now, we’re sharing what we’ve learned to help you stay ahead of beverage alcohol tax compliance in 2025. Let’s dive in.

Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Beverage Alcohol Regulations in 2025 eCommerce regulations are constantly shifting—and nowhere is that more evident than in the world of beverage alcohol sales. Navigating these evolving rules can be time-consuming, confusing, and overwhelming. But one thing is clear: if your winery, distillery, or brewery isn’t on top of compliance, you risk fines, penalties, or even having your online store shut down.

In 2025, the regulatory environment is especially challenging , with new tariffs impacting imports and exports from Canada, Mexico, China, and the EU. These changes influence everything from ingredient sourcing to final delivery costs–forcing sellers to rethink pricing, timelines, and market access

That’s where the right eCommerce partner makes all the difference. Agencies experienced in regulated industries understand the fine print—and the tech stack—to keep your business compliant and competitive. From tax mapping and regulatory monitoring to shipping restrictions and system upgrades, a knowledgeable agency will handle the heavy lifting. They also work closely with compliance platforms and industry-specific partners like Avalara to keep your store aligned with current beverage alcohol regulations in 2025. If you’re in the alcohol space, having an agency that understands the rules isn’t optional—it’s mission-critical.

RTD Cocktails Gain Popularity, Prompting Tax Relief Measures in Key States The Ready-to-Drink (RTD) cocktail market is experiencing explosive growth—and for good reason. Consumers love the convenience, variety, and craft-quality of today’s RTD offerings, including low-ABV options and health-conscious options. But as demand grows, producers are hitting an unexpected snag: outdated and uneven tax laws.

In some states, like Ohio , spirit-based RTD cocktails are taxed far higher than malt-based alternatives–even when the alcohol content is often lower. This creates a barrier for producers trying to scale in this booming category.

Thankfully, some states are stepping in.. North Carolina and Pennsylvania have introduced tax relief measures aimed to ease the burden on RTD producers. For example, North Carolina’s Senate Bill 527 exempts certain low-ABV RTD from the state’s mized beverage tax, traditionally paid by on-premise permit holders.These legislative changes create key opportunity for alcohol brands and eCommerce sellers.. As beverage alcohol tax compliance evolves, staying alert to RTD-friendly regulations can give sellers a competitive edge–and a first-mover advantage in an increasingly crowded space.

Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) Alcohol Shipping Laws Remain a Complex Patchwork Direct-to-consumer (DTC) alcohol shipping continues to gain momentum, especially as consumers increasingly seek variety and convenience. RTDcocktails are leading the charge, with 45% of alcohol buyers across ten major markets purchasing RTDs. These convenient options are starting to replace–not just supplement–traditional categories like beer and wine.

But with growth comes complexity. DTC alcohol shipping laws remain a tangled patchwork, varying dramatically by stage. From licensing and carrier restrictions to labeling requirements, excise tax rates, and age verification rules, compliance can be a nightmare–especially if you’re managing it manually.

To stay ahead of DTC alcohol shipping laws, sellers need both the right tools and the right team. Partnering with an experienced eCommerce agency and using automation software built for regulated industries can ensure you’re compliant in every market you serve—without draining your internal resources.

Evolving Labeling, Container, and Recycling Regulations Impact Packaging Compliance Labeling and packaging regulations are getting more attention–and rightly so. In California, the expanded Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act (often referred to as the updated bottle bill) now applies to wine and spirits producers. This legislation requires producers selling or shipping into California to register, report, and pay CRV (California Redemption Value) fees on eligible containers. And starting July 1, 2025, all wine and spirits containers sold in the state must display a CRV message—placing even more responsibility on producers to stay on top of their packaging compliance practices.

Meanwhile, Florida has updated its laws to allow wine sales in large-format bottles up to 15 liters–a big change from the previous one-gallon limit. While this creates new opportunities for product innovation, it also highlights the importance of monitoring container and labeling regulations on a state-by-state basis. For producers and eCommerce sellers, understanding the fine details around labeling, container sizes, registration, and recycling requirements is non-negotiable. Falling out of compliance—even unintentionally—can jeopardize your ability to sell in key markets.

To-Go Cocktail Laws Expand Inconsistently Across States To-go cocktails became wildly popular during the pandemic–and many states have made them a permanent fixture . As of 2025, over two dozen states including Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Texas, and Virginia (plus District of Columbia), now allow to-go cocktails to be sold long-term.

For producers and retailers, this shift opens new revenue streams. But here’s the catch: every state has its own take on how to-go cocktails should be handled. Some allow third-party delivery serviceslike DoorDash or Uber Eats; others insist on delivery by licensed staff only. Some states even require the drinks to be stored in a car’s trunk to comply with open container laws–even if the drink is sealed.

If your business offers or plans to offer to-go cocktails, you’ll need a thorough understanding of each state’s packaging, delivery, and transportation laws. A small mistake can lead to fines, restrictions–or worse. This is where compliance experts and eCommerce partners with industry-specific knowledge can be game changers.

Excise Tax Compliance Becomes Increasingly Dynamic, Highlighting Need for Automation Let’s face it—no one can be an expert at everything. Selling alcohol online already means navigating a minefield of regulations, but throw in the complexity of excise taxes, and even the most seasoned eCommerce merchant can feel overwhelmed. Between ever-changing tax forms, shifting rates, and complex filing deadlines, staying compliant is more than a full-time job.

The tax landscape in 2025 is more dynamic than ever, and manual processes simply can’t keep up. That’s why excise tax automation is no longer a nice-to-have–it's a necessity.With the right automation tools, you can avoid costly errors, reduce risk, and reclaim valuable time and resources.

Better yet, pair automation with an eCommerce agency that understands the nuances of the beverage and alcohol industry and partners with platforms like Avalara. With smart tech and strategic support you can spend less time worrying about compliance–and more time building your brand.

Proactive Strategies for Beverage Alcohol Tax Compliance in 2025 Beverage alcohol tax compliance in 2025 isn’t just about checking the right boxes—it’s about staying ahead of the curve. From the shifting landscape of DTC shipping laws to changing excise tax requirements and evolving packaging and recycling regulation, one thing is clear: alcohol eCommerce is more complex (and more promising) than ever.With the surge in RTD popularity, expanded to-go cocktail laws, and constantly evolving tax structures, you need a strategy that keeps you compliant, agile, and ready to grow.

That’s where Smart Solutions comes in. We specialize in helping businesses in restricted verticals like beverage alcohol navigate tax compliance, shipping restrictions, platform integrations, and more. We partner with top compliance platforms like Avalara to keep you covered–no matter how quickly the rules change.

Book a meeting with us today and let’s make sure your business is built to thrive in 2025 and beyond.

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