Costco sells just about every type of booze you can imagine, including liquor. Costco’s liquor is sold under the Kirkland Signature label, getting you the best prices possible.
But unfortunately, not all Costco locations sell liquor. This is because some states restrict liquor sales in grocery stores, mandating that only state-owned liquor stores can legally sell spirits. In most of those states, grocery stores can still legally sell beer and wine.
Costco sells alcohol in every state except for:
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Kansas
- Texas
- Tennessee
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Ohio
Some of the Costco stores in the above states house state-owned liquor stores right next door to make it easy to purchase liquor during your Costco run.
Another added bonus of buying liquor at Costco is that, depending on where you live, you don’t even need a membership. That’s because some states have made it illegal for businesses to require membership for liquor sales.
If you live in any of the following states, you can buy liquor at Costco without a membership:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New York
- Vermont
Contents
Liquor Brands & Types
Before you decide to make Costco your main liquor supplier, there’s something you should know…
Costco does not sell any name-brand liquors. Instead, they sell a wide range of liquor varieties under their own label, Kirkland Signature. Some of Costco’s liquors, however, have been rumored to be produced by popular alcohol brands like Grey Goose. Unfortunately, these rumors have mostly been debunked.
Costco sells the following types of hard liquor:
- Vodka
- Whiskey
- Bourbon
- Scotch
- Rum
- Tequila
- Gin
- Cognac
Of course, Costco also stocks a wide range of beer and wine varieties at their locations that can legally sell alcohol.
Who Can Buy Liquor At Costco?
No matter where you are in the United States, you have to be at least 21 years old to purchase liquor at Costco. And in many cases, you also have to be an active Costco member.
However, there are a few exceptions to this second part…
If you live in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, or Vermont, you can purchase liquor (or any other alcohol) at Costco without a membership.
Costco Alcohol Policy During Self-Checkout
Since there is an age requirement to purchase alcohol, you might be wondering whether alcohol can be purchased through the self checkout line at Costco.
Don’t worry–whether you’re using a traditional cashier or the self checkout, you will be able to purchase your Kirkland Signature liquor no problem.
When using self checkout, the register will notify an employee when you scan an item that requires age verification. The employee will come over to where you are to check your ID and verify your age in the machine. From there, you will be able to complete your transaction as normal.
Benefits Of Buying Liquor At Costco
Here are some of the benefits of making Costco your liquor source:
- Find unbeatable prices – While most liquor suppliers mark up their booze by at least 25%, Costco only marks up their Kirkland Signature booze by about 14%. This means that you can find the lowest prices on liquor at Costco with very little competition. For example, a 1.75-litre bottle of vodka is currently available at Costco for about $12 while the same size bottle of Tito’s vodka is priced at $28.
- Get everything in one place – There’s no need to make a separate trip to a liquor store or specialty grocery store when shopping at Costco. Simply stock up on all your liquor needs at the same store where you buy eggs and toilet paper. Simple!
- Enjoy high-quality booze at a lower price – Not only is Kirkland Signature liquor known for being super affordable–it’s also notoriously high quality. Costco customers everywhere often rave about the quality of Costco’s vodka, gin, and whiskey in particular. (Just watch out for Costco’s Spiced Rum which is rumored to be… not so great.)
Costco’s Liquor Delivery Services
Unfortunately, Costco does not offer liquor delivery through their company. This is because liquor orders cannot be placed online through Costco.com. But wait! There’s still hope for having your Costco liquor order delivered to your home.
The best way to get your Costco liquor delivered is to shop using Instacart. With an Instacart account, you can shop at Costco without even needing a membership and you can get all of your items, including liquor, delivered to your doorstep.
The only catch is that Instacart does not offer Costco liquor delivery in every state. You must live in one of the following states or regions to be able to order Costco liquor through Instacart–California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, or Washington, D.C.
Just be aware that Instacart does card shoppers upon delivery. If you cannot provide proof that you are at least 21 years of age when Instacart delivers your groceries, your entire grocery order will be returned.
Liquor Return Policy
Unfortunately, Costco only accepts liquor returns in states that permit it by law. For example, states like Washington and Florida both allow liquor returns at Costco, while states like California and Michigan do not.
To find out if your local Costco accepts alcohol returns, call or visit your store and speak to an employee directly.
If you’re interested in exchanging your alcohol, you will likely be refunded for the price of your original purchase which you can use towards the purchase of a different type of alcohol.
FAQs
Are there age restrictions for buying liquor at Costco?
Yes. Shoppers must be at least 21 years of age to purchase liquor anywhere in the United States, including Costco. In Canada, you can buy liquor at Costco at age 19 in most provinces.
Do you need a liquor license to buy liquor at Costco?
No. Liquor licenses are acquired by businesses that sell and serve liquor, such as bars and restaurants. Customers do not need liquor licenses to purchase liquor.
Does Costco sell liquor online?
No. Liquor laws vary a lot between states, so Costco only sells liquor at their physical Warehouse locations in states that allow it. However, if you use Instacart and live in a state where Costco can legally sell liquor, you can purchase liquor, beer, and wine from Costco any time you place an Instacart order.
