Alcohol Shipping Compliance
At WIAG (Wine in a Glass), we are committed to selling and shipping our wine products in strict accordance with all age restrictions and alcohol shipping laws. This page outlines our age verification policy and alcohol shipping compliance measures, ensuring we only sell and deliver alcohol to those of legal drinking age in their country or region. We take these requirements seriously as part of our dedication to responsible and lawful alcohol sales.
Legal Drinking Age Requirements by Country/Region
We only sell and ship alcohol to individuals who meet the legal minimum drinking age in their destination country or region. Below is a list of selected countries and their legal drinking ages:
Country/Region |
Legal Drinking Age |
Australia |
18 years old |
New Zealand |
18 years old |
United States (USA) |
21 years old |
Canada |
18–19 years old (varies by province/territory) |
United Kingdom (UK) |
18 years old |
Japan |
20 years old |
China |
18 years old |
Most EU Countries |
18 years old (with limited exceptions) |
If a destination has a higher legal drinking age or specific alcohol restrictions, we will comply and not complete the sale or shipment. For example, the USA has one of the highest minimum ages (21), whereas many other countries have 18 as the legal age. We do not ship to any locations where alcohol is entirely prohibited by law.
Age Verification Process
To ensure compliance with age laws and prevent underage access, WIAG employs a multi-step age verification process:
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Age Gate on Our Website: When you first enter our site, you will encounter an age-verification popup. This age gate requires you to confirm that you are of legal drinking age (e.g. "I am 18 or older" in Australia, "21 or older" in the US) before you can browse our products. This measure prevents underage visitors from accessing our alcohol content.
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Age Declaration at Checkout: At checkout, customers must explicitly declare their age or date of birth. We require you to confirm that you are of legal drinking age in your jurisdiction as a condition of purchase. This confirmation step (often a checkbox or birth date entry) adds an extra layer of accountability, ensuring buyers understand and attest that they are old enough to legally buy alcohol.
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Adult ID Check on Delivery: All wine shipments require an adult signature and ID verification upon delivery. Our delivery partners (detailed below) are instructed to request a valid government-issued photo ID to verify the recipient’s age. The recipient must be present to sign for the package and show proof of age — packages will not be left unattended. If an adult of legal drinking age is not available, or if age cannot be verified at the time of delivery, the delivery will be unsuccessful and the shipment will be returned to WIAG. This policy ensures that no alcohol is handed over to a minor under any circumstances.
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No Resale to Minors: By completing a purchase, you agree not to supply our wine to any person below the legal drinking age. We reserve the right to cancel orders if we suspect they are being made on behalf of an underage person.
Shipping and Delivery Policies
We adhere to all shipping regulations and work with reputable carriers to deliver your order safely and in compliance with the law:
Domestic (Australia) Deliveries
For orders within Australia, we use Australia Post and Allied Express as our primary couriers. These carriers have proven systems for handling alcohol deliveries responsibly. They will perform the required proof-of-age checks on delivery (such as verifying 18+ ID) in line with Australian regulations. If the recipient is unable to provide ID proving they are at least 18, the courier will not complete the delivery and will return the package to us. We cannot authorize delivery to minors, and our carriers understand and enforce this policy.
International Orders
For international shipments, WIAG partners with major global carriers such as UPS and DHL Express. The choice of carrier depends on the destination country and the fastest, safest method available. All international shipments of alcohol are sent with an "Adult Signature Required" service. This means an adult of legal drinking age must sign and show identification upon delivery, whether the legal age is 18, 21, or otherwise in that country. Our international carriers comply with local laws — for example, UPS and DHL will not release a wine shipment to anyone under the required age and will check ID to confirm the recipient’s age. If no eligible adult is available to receive the package, the shipment will be held for a re-delivery attempt or returned to us, as per the carrier’s standard protocols.
Delivery Attempts and Returns
We encourage customers to ensure someone of legal age is present at the delivery address on the expected delivery date. Our carriers typically will not leave alcohol parcels unattended or with underage persons. If a delivery fails due to age verification issues, we will contact you to arrange either a re-delivery (where possible) or process a return. Additional shipping fees may apply for re-delivery, so it’s best to plan for an adult to sign on the first attempt to avoid delays.
Shipping Times and Weather
We strive to ship orders promptly and provide tracking information. Please note that for sensitive shipments like wine, we may adjust shipping schedules to avoid extreme temperatures (hot or cold) that could damage the wine during transit. We will communicate any such adjustments to you. Deliveries via Australia Post or Allied Express usually arrive within standard domestic timeframes (e.g. 1–5 business days depending on location), while international deliveries via UPS or DHL vary by country (typically 3–10 business days). We comply with all customs declarations and import regulations for alcohol in the destination country, which can occasionally affect transit times.
Regulatory Compliance and Platform Policies
WIAG abides by all local, national, and international laws governing the sale and shipment of alcoholic beverages. We maintain all necessary licenses and permits for selling wine, and we ensure every shipment meets the destination country’s requirements (such as duties, taxes, or volume limits). Some key compliance points include:
Age Verification and Legal Compliance
We implement effective age verification practices so that alcohol products cannot be purchased or received by any person under the legal drinking age in the relevant jurisdiction. This is not just our policy, but a legal requirement in all regions we serve. We take responsibility as the shipper to verify the age of the recipient before and during shipping.
Shipping Laws by Region
We ship and deliver alcohol products in full compliance with the laws of both our business’s jurisdiction and our customers’ jurisdictions. We stay updated on each country’s or state’s regulations on alcohol delivery. For example, if a state or country prohibits direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping or has special requirements, we adhere to those rules or refrain from shipping there. We also comply with international customs regulations for alcohol. All shipments are properly declared and labeled as alcohol where required (including any "Adult Signature Required" markings), and we follow any packaging or documentation guidelines mandated by carriers or customs authorities. We do not ship to regions where alcohol importation is banned.
Platform and Advertising Policies
As an online retailer, we also comply with the policies of the major platforms and marketing channels we use:
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Shopify: Our store operates on Shopify, and we meet Shopify’s requirements for alcohol sellers (such as having age verification and necessary legal disclosures). Shopify’s terms require merchants selling alcohol to follow all applicable laws and to prevent underage sales, which is exactly what our compliance program ensures.
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Google & Facebook: We follow digital advertising standards set by companies like Google and Meta (Facebook/Instagram). Any advertising or marketing we conduct is targeted only to legal-age audiences. We do not advertise to or solicit minors. For instance, Facebook’s policy prohibits alcohol ads from targeting users under 18, and we abide by these rules in all our social media campaigns. Our marketing content also adheres to platform guidelines, meaning we promote responsible enjoyment of our wine without encouraging excessive or inappropriate consumption.
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Amazon & Other Marketplaces: If we list products on marketplaces or sales channels that have their own alcohol policies (such as Amazon’s alcohol sale rules), we ensure our participation meets their standards. This includes any required warnings, age checks, and shipping practices mandated by those platforms.
Responsible Business Practices
WIAG participates in industry best practices for responsible alcohol retail. We regularly train our staff on compliance procedures, keep our policies updated as laws change, and maintain records as required for age verification and shipments. In every aspect of our business — from website design (with age gates) to delivery — we go above and beyond to prevent underage access and to follow the letter of the law. Our internal processes are periodically reviewed to ensure ongoing compliance with all regulatory updates.
By complying with all applicable laws and platform policies, we not only avoid legal issues but also demonstrate our commitment to the safe and lawful distribution of alcohol. We want our customers to have confidence that WIAG operates with integrity and respect for all regulations.
Commitment to Responsible Alcohol Sales
WIAG is fully committed to the legal, safe, and responsible sale of alcohol. All our team members — from order processing to delivery — share the responsibility of upholding our age restrictions and compliance standards. We believe that selling wine comes with an important duty: to ensure it is enjoyed only by adults of legal drinking age and handled in a safe manner. Our compliance measures are not just about following laws – they reflect our company’s values and dedication to social responsibility. We take pride in being a responsible wine merchant, and we thank our customers for cooperating with these policies.
If we ever discover an instance of non-compliance or a loophole (for example, an underage individual attempting to misuse our system), we act immediately to address it — whether that means canceling an order, retraining staff, or improving our verification technology. Your trust is important to us, and we work hard to earn it by running our business ethically.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or need further clarification about our alcohol shipping compliance or age verification procedures, please contact us:
Phone: +61 408 966 273
Email: info@wiagglobal.com
Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (AEST)