DoorDash now offering alcohol delivery in NJ

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Customers in New Jersey can now have alcohol from local bars, restaurants and liquor stores delivered directly to their doorstep courtesy of DoorDash.

In a Nov. 16 press release, the on-demand delivery platform announced the launch of alcohol delivery in the Garden State, making it the first third-party company in the state to offer such services.

DoorDash General Manager of Alcohol and Convenience Erik Ragotte said in a statement, “This is a huge step forward for consumers across New Jersey who will now be able enjoy the convenience of having alcohol delivered safely to their doors from their favorite local businesses through the DoorDash platform.”

To ensure alcohol is delivered in a safe and responsible manner, DoorDash put in place numerous measures, including state-of-the-art ID verification and bans on delivering to college campuses, hotels, offices and BYOB restaurants.

Additionally, DoorDash drivers will be required to pass alcohol compliance training, be at least 21 years old and undergo a background check, according to the company. Contactless delivery is not allowed, as customers must meet their DoorDash driver face-to-face.

The launch comes about a year after the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control adopted a special rule to permit bars, restaurants and liquor stores in New Jersey to use third-party delivery services to reach customers.

To provide the offering, platforms must first obtain a $2,000-per-year permit, as well as adhere to numerous regulations, such as conducting background checks on delivery workers, training drivers to comply with alcohol laws and implementing ways to prevent deliveries to underage customers.

Ragotte said, “We’ve worked hard to build a best-in-class alcohol delivery platform with robust safeguards …We look forward to continuing to work closely with the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control and continuing to lead the industry forward on safe and responsible alcohol delivery.”

The company – which added alcohol to its on-demand marketplace in 2020 – now delivers alcohol in 35 states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

DoorDash noted the “strong and sustained demand from consumers” for the service, saying that its 2023 Alcohol Ordering Trends report found that 60% of customers used on-demand alcohol delivery more than the prior year.