The US Post Office will not ship alcohol and beer. It is illegal to ship those items through the US Post Office. Not just a violation of policy. It is against the law.

UPS and FedEx have written policies against shipping alcohol, beer included.

It's a lot to do with taxes, licenses and keeping booze away from the kiddies. Brewers have to sell to distributors. Distributors have to sell to retailers.

"But I'm not selling it. I'm giving it away." Yeah, well, yeah... umm, no.

I believe it is also illegal to make more than 200 gallons of booze per year per household. Not per person per household, per household. So says, this is to keep people from brewing, distributing and retailing without a license, and without paying taxes.

I like the band Judas Priest. I'm just saying.

That is why I don't brew at home. 200 gallons in a year? Come on, I am a pro.

I'm not sure you're correct in this assumption, Aint. You can mail order wine from vineyards in Cali.

I have to take exception as well Ain't.

My folks ship us Riesling Wines (for K) and some select Dry Red Wines for me (different types each time) as my Father is our wine buyer/expert for our entire family in Germany. He makes 2 yearly trips up and down the Rhine, The Ruhr Valley, and one to the Black Forest (where he buys Weisherbst, a kind of dry fruity mix of grapes) Looks a bit like blush wine. Dry and delicious though. I don't enjoy sweet wines.

We ship it here and to Canada, all the time, and have never been told it's illegal.

I believe you are allowed to ship, as gifts, to family, but I could be very wrong. Not once has the wine been opened/seized, nor have we received notice from customs that the act is illegal. We did get DOA (dept of agriculture at the time) seize and send us a letter of (NO NO NO) when we shipped raw sausage thru the mails. That was in the late 80's. Still illegal. And fineable if seized.

We ARE allowed to ship canned wursts etc, just not raw or semi raw wursts (teewurst, leberwurst etc) in skin, no matter how well it's wrapped, including vaccuum seals.

If you knew my Pop, he would not send wines illegally, ever, unless he wasn't aware, which I highly doubt. Of course, we're dealing with 'entry' USA laws, not 'shipping' laws, as pertains Germany.

I might look into the law for FM, as regards shipping wines etc, overseas and state to state, etc etc. I have personally had wines shipped from Cal, Africa, and Aussie as well. Recently, to boot. Door to door, from the manufacturer.

Mayhaps it requires special license from the shipper? I had to provide credit card info, and that was scrutinized thru my bank, that I was of legal age, by the shipper.

*WAY more than legal age!!*

(ducking... AND running!!)

That will cost! I told ya, rude comments, early wake-ups, even gunfire will be ignored.

It's a way of life, lol.

Bill me, and see where the bill goes! HAH!! You can speak with my shysters, Dewey, Cheatum & Howe.

Live and direct from the US Post Office, where a sign hangs announcing that the Metric System will be implemented soon, in 1976.

"Other items, such as alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor), are not considered hazardous but are prohibited and boxes displaying such markings are also prohibited."

Under "Restricted Matter"

"42 Intoxicating Liquors
421 Definition

Intoxicating liquors are drinkable beverages that have 0.5 percent or more alcoholic content by weight and are taxable under chapter 51 of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Code."

It goes on for several subsections, including, under "Mailability",

"422.1 Nonmailable Matter
422.11 Intoxicating Liquors

Intoxicating liquors having 0.5 percent or more alcoholic content are nonmailable. Taxable liquors with 3.2 percent or less alcohol, including those obtained under a prescription or as a collector's item, also are nonmailable. The prohibition of the mailing of intoxicating liquors is contained in federal law (18 USC 1716)."

Maybe there is a catch with the word "liquors" as opposed to beer and wine. We see such distinctions made all the time in various local booze laws across the U.S. However, the definition of "Intoxicating Liquors" says drinkable beverages with more than 0.5% alcohol. Beer is such a beverage.

Maybe people are using Stone's Law of don't tell.

Hey, Bff,

Can you send me some Frankfurter wurst and some Weisherbst--without telling anyone, of course? I'd like it as a gift, that way we won't be breaking any Customs' laws--or tax laws. (I'll send you any compensation you require later, through PayPal.)

The Postal Service isn't government, so just don't tell them.

Thanx for looking that up Ain't. I was personally unawares, as we have received 8 bottle cases, sporadically, for 20 yrs. Usually 2 cases at a time, separately.

When our meat packs were stopped, opened and seized, we just got a nasty letter, but no fine. In fact, I had visions of some happy customs dudes sitting there, eating it all, and laughing their asses off at us. Oh well.

I go to Germany enough to sample all their goodies 'in country', so to speak.

Interesting. I wonder how Pops will take the news.