Walmart Alcohol Policy

Are you looking for a quick and easy way to pick up your party provisions? 

Walmart is famous for selling a huge range of products under one roof. This includes party decorations, snacks, glasses, and even ice. However, buying beer, wine, and other types of alcohol can be a little tricky. Restrictions and requirements are put in place by governments to prevent the general misuse of alcoholic beverages.

So, let’s take a closer look at the Walmart alcohol policy and what it covers.

About The Alcohol Policy At Walmart

Like other retailers, Walmart is required by law to follow the regulations on the sale of alcoholic beverages. The company has developed a strict policy that conforms to the regulations established in each state. Therefore, it is fairly easy to purchase these beverages in certain states, while it is prohibited in others.

Availability in stores 

You are likely to find a wide range of different types of alcoholic beverages in your local Walmart store. This includes beer, wine, and spirits.

However, there are strict regulations on the sale of alcoholic beverages in certain states.

The sale of liquor is permitted in grocery stores in the following states:

Walmart is legally permitted to sell alcoholic beverages in the stores in these states. However, there are certain states where the company is prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages under any circumstances. 

The sale of liquor is banned in grocery stores in the following states:

Refusal

Being refused when you want to purchase hooch is sure to be a downer. To make sure you can get your drink on, you have to meet certain conditions.

The sale of alcoholic beverages is refused to customers who:

Purchase with a minor present

It’s not unusual to want to buy a few alcoholic beverages while you’re shopping with your child. Fortunately, there is nothing in the policy that prevents this. As long as there is no suspicion that you’re buying the drinks for the child to consume, you’re fine.

However, there may be an issue if the minor is close to the legal drinking age. If they are not related to you, this could raise suspicion from a store employee. It may be best to purchase without the minor in tow.

Self-checkout

Only in some states is it possible to go through a self-checkout with alcoholic beverages. If you live in California, you will not be able to go through a self-checkout. This restriction was put in place in 2013 to ensure that a photo ID is presented before the sale is made.

In other states, you still have to wait for an employee to verify your ID and confirm the age requirement. If no employees are free, you may find that you end up waiting around for a while. It is probably best to avoid self-checkouts when purchasing alcoholic beverages. 

ID requirements

Retailers face a heavy fine if they are caught selling alcoholic beverages to people under the age of 21. Therefore, most stores err on the side of caution. If you look under the age of 40, you will usually be asked to show a photo ID. The employee will closely inspect your ID and verify it before the sale is made. 

Accepted forms of ID

It is a good idea to keep some form of ID with you at all times. This identification needs to feature a recent picture of yourself, your full name, your signature, and your date of birth. 

Valid forms of ID include:

Grocery Delivery 

If you don’t have time to get to a store, you can head on over to the Walmart website or app. Browse for a wide range of alcoholic beverages and pay for them online. Once your payment has been processed, you can choose in-store pickup to save you time. Alternatively, you can arrange to have them delivered right to your door.

Even though you pay in advance, you will still have to prove that you meet the age restriction. You must have a valid photo ID ready when collecting your order or receiving the delivery. If you cannot prove that you are 21 or over, your order will not be handed to you. 

The Walmart Alcohol Return Policy

If you love alcohol, it’s hard to imagine you would ever want to take it back to a store. However, you can return alcoholic beverages if they are unopened. Any provided packaging must be intact, and you must be able to produce the receipt.

You will need to show a valid government-issued photo ID and can only return them to the store they were originally purchased from. Also, only the person who originally bought the alcoholic beverages can make the return. 

If you ordered them online…

If you purchased them online and had them delivered, you will still have to return them in person. This has to be done at your nearest store. The refund process cannot be initiated through the company’s website or app.

If the beverages were damaged in some way by the manufacturer, you need to contact customer services. It is best to do this online and explain the issue in as much detail as possible. The return paperwork that needs to be completed is likely to be slightly different from that for regular returns.

Want To Know About More Policies?

No problem! We’ve covered a few of their return policies, such as the Walmart Return Policy Without Receipt, the Walmart Return Policy After 90 Days, and for returns where you’ve thrown away the packaging, the Walmart Return Policy Without Box Or Opened Box.

Furthermore, check out the Walmart TV Return Policy, and for gamers, the Walmart Video Game Return Policy, as well as the Walmart Baby Formula Return Policy, and Walmart Diaper Return Policy, for new moms.

Lastly, if you’re servicing your car, you might want to know about the Walmart Everstart Battery Warranty and Walmart Car Battery Return Policy, or perhaps you’d like to take a look at the Walmart Bicycle Return Policy and Walmart Clothing Return Policy for 2023.

Final Thoughts 

You can find a wide selection of alcoholic beverages like wine, beer, and liquor at most Walmart stores. If they are not available in your local store, they are prohibited from being sold in your state. You can also purchase these beverages through the company’s website and have them delivered to your door.

You need to provide some form of ID when buying alcohol at Walmart. This is used to prove that you are over the age of 21. If you cannot provide this, you will have to leave the store empty-handed.

Enjoy your celebrations, and please drink responsibly!