Alcohol delivery is not legal in South Carolina, with one narrow exception. Retail stores cannot deliver beer, wine, or liquor to your home, and curbside pickup is not authorized either.1South Carolina Department of Revenue. Liquor Licensing The only way to lawfully receive alcohol at a South Carolina address is to order wine directly from an out-of-state winery that holds the right federal and state permits, and even that channel is capped at 24 bottles per resident per month.2South Carolina Department of Revenue. Out-of-State Wine Shipper Permit (PWS) Two bills in the 2025–2026 legislative session would change that, but neither has passed.
The Only Legal Way to Get Alcohol Delivered
Direct-to-consumer wine shipments from out-of-state wineries are the sole permitted form of alcohol delivery in South Carolina. To ship legally, the winery must hold a federal Wine Producer or Blender’s Permit from the TTB and apply for a South Carolina Out-of-State Wine Shipper Permit. Shipments to any one resident cannot exceed 24 bottles per month.2South Carolina Department of Revenue. Out-of-State Wine Shipper Permit (PWS)
This channel covers wine only. It does not cover beer, it does not cover liquor, and it does not authorize an in-state retailer to ship you anything. If a website or app is arranging a delivery from a South Carolina store, that delivery is not legal, regardless of what the checkout screen suggests.
Why Retail Delivery and Curbside Pickup Are Not Allowed
South Carolina regulates alcohol through a three-tier system that strictly separates manufacturing, wholesaling, and retailing.3South Carolina Department of Revenue. Alcohol Beverage Licensing (ABL) Within that structure, the Department of Revenue takes the plain position that alcoholic liquors cannot be delivered to a resident and that curbside pickup is not authorized.1South Carolina Department of Revenue. Liquor Licensing A customer who orders online from a South Carolina liquor store still has to walk in and pick the order up.
Pending Bills That Would Legalize Delivery
Two companion bills would create a licensing framework for retail alcohol delivery and curbside pickup. House Bill 3857 was introduced on January 30, 2025 and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, where it sits.4South Carolina Legislature. 2025-2026 Bill 3857 Alcohol Delivery and Curbside Pickup Senate Bill 849, a similar measure, was introduced on January 28, 2026 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.5South Carolina Legislature. 2025-2026 Bill 849 Alcohol Delivery and Curbside Pickup Neither has received a committee vote as of this writing. Until one becomes law, the current prohibition stands.
What Would Change if a Bill Passes
If either bill is enacted, licensed retailers could deliver sealed beer, wine, and liquor for personal consumption, either using their own staff or a licensed third-party delivery service.4South Carolina Legislature. 2025-2026 Bill 3857 Alcohol Delivery and Curbside Pickup Consumer-facing rules would include several practical limits worth knowing.
Where Deliveries Could Go
Orders would have to be collected from the retailer’s premises and delivered the same day. Deliveries would be limited to addresses within the retailer’s five-digit ZIP code or a ZIP code touching it, and would have to fall within the jurisdiction’s lawful alcohol sales hours. Under existing law those hours are Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for liquor stores, with liquor sales closed on Sundays; off-premises beer sales run 24 hours Monday through Saturday, with Sunday sales only in counties that have opted in.4South Carolina Legislature. 2025-2026 Bill 3857 Alcohol Delivery and Curbside Pickup
Certain addresses would be off-limits even inside the allowed ZIP code zone: churches, schools, playgrounds, and college or university residence halls and dormitories. The bills do not set a maximum quantity per order.4South Carolina Legislature. 2025-2026 Bill 3857 Alcohol Delivery and Curbside Pickup
Age Check at the Door
Drivers would have to verify that the recipient is at least 21 using electronic age-verification software that scans a photo ID. If the scanner does not work at the delivery location, the driver would have to manually record the recipient’s name, date of birth, ID type and number, and get the recipient’s signature before handing over the order.4South Carolina Legislature. 2025-2026 Bill 3857 Alcohol Delivery and Curbside Pickup
A driver would have to refuse the order and take it back to the store the same day if the recipient is not present, is under 21, cannot produce valid ID, appears intoxicated, or cannot complete the verification steps.4South Carolina Legislature. 2025-2026 Bill 3857 Alcohol Delivery and Curbside Pickup
Curbside Pickup Would Also Become Legal
The same bills would authorize curbside pickup from a designated area next to or near a licensed store. The employee bringing the order to the vehicle would need to be at least 18 and check the customer’s government-issued ID; curbside service would be denied to anyone under 21 or visibly intoxicated. A few restrictions may catch shoppers off guard: containers could not be chilled at the time of pickup, no open containers would be allowed, drive-through pickup would remain prohibited, and a curbside license would not permit the retailer to use a third-party service for those orders.4South Carolina Legislature. 2025-2026 Bill 3857 Alcohol Delivery and Curbside Pickup
The Bottom Line for Now
If you live in South Carolina and want alcohol brought to your door, wine from a permitted out-of-state winery is the only lawful option, and 24 bottles a month is the ceiling.2South Carolina Department of Revenue. Out-of-State Wine Shipper Permit (PWS) For beer, liquor, or anything from a South Carolina retailer, you still have to go into the store. That will remain true unless and until the legislature passes one of the pending delivery bills.