SC Lawmakers Consider Bill to Allow Alcohol Delivery and Curbside Pickup

South Carolina may soon modernize its alcohol laws to allow licensed retailers to offer curbside pickup and home delivery of beer, wine, and liquor. The proposal, currently moving through the Statehouse, aims to update what are often cited as some of the Southeast’s most restrictive alcohol statutes.

The South Carolina Retail Association supports the change, noting that current law is silent on delivery, allowing out-of-state sources to deliver alcohol without boosting the local economy. Supporters cite the growing trend of online grocery shopping and the convenience delivery offers to consumers, including elderly individuals and busy parents.

The bill includes several mandated safety protocols intended to prevent underage access and misuse:

• Delivery drivers must undergo background checks and receive certified alcohol safety training.

• Drivers would be required to verify IDs at every drop-off location.

• Sellers must carry additional liability insurance.

Despite the safeguards, some local retailers oppose the delivery component, arguing that the added insurance and logistical requirements would increase prices and introduce new risks, such as delivering to unfamiliar or unsafe neighborhoods.

One retailer preferred the curbside pickup system temporarily utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic, which does not require the same logistical burden as home delivery.

Safety concerns are also shared by some lawmakers, who raised questions about the potential for increased impaired driving incidents and the enforcement mechanism for auditing retailers and penalizing violations like delivering to a minor. Conversely, supporters argue that delivery could reduce DUI incidents by keeping drinkers off the roads.

The push for delivery aligns South Carolina with more than 30 other states, including neighbors North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, which already permit some form of alcohol delivery using similar ID verification and training systems. Supporters argue these states prove the system is workable and benefits both businesses and consumers.

The measure has passed the State House in previous sessions but stalled in the Senate. Lawmakers expect debate on the bill when the session reconvenes in January.