Updated November 8, 2026. This article was written in mid-November 2024, shortly after ABC published an industry advisory on Assembly Bill 3203. It describes craft distiller direct shipping rules as they stood for 2025. Later changes are described separately at the end. It is general information, not legal advice.
One more year of shipping
California craft distillers received a short reprieve in 2024. A temporary law allowing licensed craft distillers to ship their spirits directly to California consumers was scheduled to end on January 1, 2025. Assembly Bill 3203 (Aguiar-Curry, Chapter 318, Statutes of 2024), signed on September 20, 2024, extended it for one more year.
On November 6, 2024, ABC published an industry advisory summarizing the extension. This article explains who can ship, the four conditions every shipment must meet, and the operational habits that keep shipments compliant, especially the age verification at the door.
Who is covered
The privilege belongs only to holders of a craft distillers license, ABC license Type 74. ABC’s advisory explains that since September 29, 2022, Type 74 licensees have been temporarily authorized to ship distilled spirits manufactured or produced by the licensee at its premises, if done in compliance with Business and Professions Code section 23504.5. The section was scheduled to repeal January 1, 2025; AB 3203 extended the repeal date to January 1, 2026.
ABC’s advisory adds that the Legislature enacted the original temporary authorization and this extension to provide limited relief to manufacturers recovering from pandemic-related impacts.
ABC’s frequently asked questions make the boundaries clear:
- Out-of-state distilled spirits manufacturers are not covered; the law applies solely to Type 74 licensees.
- A Type 74 licensee that also operates a bona fide eating place may not ship distilled spirits manufactured by others.
The ABC summary of 2024 legislation also lists AB 3203 as effective January 1, 2025, and states that spirits shipped by a California craft distiller must still comply with section 23504.5. See ABC’s 2024 chaptered legislation page.
The four conditions
According to ABC’s advisory, Type 74 licensees may ship spirits they manufacture or produce at their premises to California consumers only if all of the following occur:
- Quantity limit. The amount shipped must not exceed the equivalent of 2.25 liters in any combination of prepackaged containers per day per consumer, solely for the consumer’s personal use and not for resale.
- Records. The craft distiller must maintain adequate records of shipments and provide them to ABC on request.
- Adult signature. The craft distiller must require the common carrier to obtain the signature of an individual 21 years of age or older before delivering any distilled spirits shipped to an individual in California.
- Labeling. Shipping containers must be conspicuously labeled with the words: “Contains Alcohol: Signature of person age 21 years or older required for delivery.”
Asked what records must be kept, ABC’s FAQ answers: all that are necessary to demonstrate eligibility and compliance with the law.
What 2.25 liters looks like
A standard spirits bottle is 750 milliliters, so three bottles equal 2.25 liters. Combinations of smaller bottles count toward the same total. The limit is per consumer per day, which means an online store should block orders that exceed the limit for the same consumer on the same day, including multiple orders placed in quick succession.
Building a compliant shipping workflow
Age at checkout
The law places the signature requirement at delivery, but a responsible distiller can also screen at checkout. Require customers to confirm their date of birth, and decline orders where the stated age is under 21.
Carrier settings
Use a carrier service that requires an adult signature and verify the setting on every shipment. A shipment sent without the adult signature requirement does not meet the law’s conditions.
Labels
Print the required statement on every shipping container exactly as written. Pre-printed labels or a template in the shipping software reduce errors.
Order limits
Configure the online store to enforce the 2.25-liter daily limit per consumer, and train staff processing phone or in-person ship orders to check the same limit.
California addresses only
The privilege covers shipments to California consumers. Block out-of-state shipping addresses for spirits.
Own products only
Restrict shippable products to spirits manufactured or produced by the licensee at its premises. If the tasting room also sells other producers’ spirits, keep them out of the shipping catalog.
Records
Keep order records, including customer name, shipping address, products and volumes, date shipped, carrier tracking number, and delivery confirmation showing an adult signature. Organize them so they can be produced quickly on request.
Delivery exceptions
Packages returned because no adult was available should be logged and either reshipped with the signature requirement or refunded. Do not authorize carriers to leave packages unattended.
Training tasting room staff
Tasting room employees are often the ones taking ship-to-home orders after a tasting. They need to understand the shipping rules as well as on-site service rules:
- Check ID for every guest who appears under the house threshold before tasting or purchase.
- Know the daily shipping limit and how it applies to guests who already ordered online.
- Recognize intoxication; a guest who has had several tastings may not be in a state to make purchase decisions, and selling to an obviously intoxicated person is prohibited by section 25602.
- Explain the adult signature requirement so customers are not surprised.
Tasting room staff who pour for on-site consumption are generally subject to RBS certification requirements. ABC’s RBS FAQ lists Type 74 among the license types subject to RBS.
Planning for the January 2026 date
Because the authorization is temporary, distillers should plan for the possibility that shipping ends on January 1, 2026, unless the Legislature acts again. That means avoiding long-term commitments, such as multiyear shipping club subscriptions, that depend on the privilege continuing, and communicating clearly with club members about the temporary nature of shipping.
Related rules for other producers
Wine and beer shipping rules differ. Our earlier article on craft producer rules and cider shipping covers other 2024 changes affecting small producers.
A scenario at a craft distillery
A distillery’s online store receives two orders from the same customer within an hour: two bottles in the first order and two in the second. The store’s software flags the second order because it would bring the day’s total to 3 liters, above the 2.25-liter limit. A staff member contacts the customer, who agrees to ship one additional bottle the following day. Every package carries the required label and an adult signature service, and delivery confirmations are saved to the order record.
Customer communication
Clear communication prevents frustration and compliance problems. A shipping policy page on the distillery’s website can explain:
- That shipping is available only to California addresses.
- That an adult 21 or older must sign for delivery, and packages cannot be left at the door.
- The daily limit of 2.25 liters per consumer.
- That shipped spirits are for personal use, not resale.
- That the shipping privilege is temporary under current law.
Order confirmation emails can repeat the signature requirement so customers plan to be home or choose a delivery location where an adult can sign.
Gift shipments
Holiday gift orders raise specific questions. The recipient, not just the buyer, must be an adult who signs for delivery. Staff should remind gift buyers that the recipient must be 21 or older and available to sign, and that the daily limit applies per consumer. If a gift package is returned because no adult was available, contact the buyer to arrange reshipment with the same signature requirement.
Internal audits
A quarterly review of shipping records helps catch problems early. Pull a sample of orders and confirm that each one shipped to a California address, stayed within the daily limit, used the correct label, and has a delivery record showing an adult signature. Note any exceptions and how they were resolved. If ABC asks for records, a distillery that already audits itself can respond quickly and confidently.
Working with fulfillment partners
Some distilleries use third-party packing or fulfillment services. Even when another company packs and ships, the licensee remains responsible for compliance. Contracts should require the partner to use the correct label, adult signature service, and California-only shipping, and to provide records on request.
Shipping skills for tasting room staff
Tasting room staff are often the first to hear shipping questions. Because Type 74 licenses are on ABC’s list of license types subject to RBS requirements, staff who pour for guests on site should already be RBS certified. Shipping adds a different set of skills: explaining the daily limit, collecting accurate California addresses, and telling buyers that an adult must sign. Give staff a short script and a printed policy card, and route unusual requests, such as shipments to a business address or out of state, to a manager. If an order arrives through a delivery partner, our delivery ID guide covers handoff checks.
Refresh the training whenever the law changes. Staff who learned the rules in 2024 should hear promptly about any extension, new permit, or change in conditions.
Distilleries should also decide who signs off on shipping exceptions. A single named person, such as the general manager, can approve unusual orders, record the reason, and confirm that each one still meets the four conditions. Clear ownership keeps the workflow from drifting during busy holiday weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Can out-of-state distillers ship to California under this law?
ABC’s advisory says the law applies solely to Type 74 licensees.
How much can be shipped?
No more than 2.25 liters per consumer per day, for personal use.
When does the authorization end?
After AB 3203, the repeal date is January 1, 2026.
Current context as of November 8, 2026
The rules changed again after this article was written. In a November 3, 2025 advisory, ABC said that beginning January 1, 2026, a Type 94 Direct Shipper permit is required for California craft distillers or qualifying out-of-state distillers to ship spirits they manufacture or produce directly to California consumers, with the same 2.25-liter limit, recordkeeping, adult signature, and labeling conditions, and no shipments while the permit holder’s license is suspended. ABC said the authorization is scheduled to repeal January 1, 2027, and Type 94 permits are valid only for calendar year 2026. Distillers should check ABC’s current guidance.
The bottom line
AB 3203 gave Type 74 craft distillers one more year of direct shipping. The conditions are simple but strict: own spirits only, 2.25 liters per consumer per day, adult signature, the required label, and good records.
Train the Tasting Room Team
Shipping and pouring both need care. ServeTrain’s ABC-approved online RBS course helps California tasting room servers and managers certify on schedule. Before enrolling, register or log in to your RBS Portal account with ABC and confirm your chosen course appears in the portal’s training provider search.
Sources
- ABC: Craft Distiller DTC Privileges Extended One More Year (Nov. 6, 2024)
- ABC: 2024 Chaptered Legislation
- ABC: Craft Distiller Direct Shipper Permit (current note)
- ABC: RBS Frequently Asked Questions
- California BPC 25602
This article is general information, not legal advice.
