Nearly seven in 10 American adults of legal drinking age want laws expanded to allow more direct-to-consumer spirits shipping, according to a new report highlighting the gap between consumer interest and access to bottles from distilleries across the country.
The 2026 Direct-to-Consumer Spirits Shipping Report, released by Sovos ShipCompliant and the American Craft Spirits Association, found that 68% of Americans ages 21 and older support changing laws to expand direct spirits shipping. Support rises to 81% among regular craft spirits drinkers.
The study, based on research conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the two organizations, also found that 82% of regular craft spirits drinkers want the ability to legally purchase craft spirits through direct-to-consumer shipping.
Now in its fifth consecutive year, the annual report examines consumer attitudes, purchasing behavior and interest in having spirits shipped directly to their homes. Its latest findings point to sustained demand for access to products that consumers may discover while traveling or through recommendations but cannot purchase locally.
“Five years of research tells a remarkably consistent story: consumers want greater access to craft spirits, and that demand is not going away,” said Alex Koral, regulatory general counsel at Sovos ShipCompliant.
Koral said direct shipping could help consumers obtain products unavailable in nearby stores while creating additional opportunities for distilleries and retailers.
Travel remains a significant point of discovery. Among regular craft spirits drinkers surveyed, 76% said they had discovered a craft spirit while traveling that they wished they could purchase at home.
For distilleries that attract visitors from outside their distribution markets, that finding illustrates a potential disconnect between building interest in a brand and giving customers a way to buy it again after their trip.
The survey also suggests shipping availability could influence consumers’ willingness to explore unfamiliar spirits. Eighty-one percent of regular craft spirits drinkers said they would be more likely to try new craft spirits if they could purchase them through direct shipping. Meanwhile, 77% said they were likely to purchase craft spirits through that channel in the future.
Those responses measure consumer interest and purchasing intentions, rather than completed sales, but offer producers an indication of potential demand.
According to the report, just 10 states and the District of Columbia have statutory authority permitting direct-to-consumer spirits shipping, compared with 49 states and Washington, D.C., for wine. The report also flags the scheduled expiration of California’s direct spirits shipping law at the end of 2026 as a potential further restriction on access.
Emily Pennington, CEO of the American Craft Spirits Association, said direct shipping gives craft producers an opportunity to reach consumers in the ways they want to shop.
She said the next step is translating that demand into effective regulations that expand access while addressing the regulatory and social considerations associated with shipping alcohol.
For craft distillers, the findings reinforce the potential value of maintaining a connection with customers beyond a tasting room visit. For consumers, they reflect continued interest in purchasing spirits that may sit outside the reach of local retail shelves. Click here to view the full report.
