In 1919, during the Prohibition period, alcohol was banned in the United States with the passage of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution. But in 1933 the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution repealed the 18th Amendment, and gave states the power to enact their own laws regarding the production, distribution, and sale of alcohol.

Today, each state—and in some cases, each municipality or county—has its own regulations regarding the sale and shipment of all alcoholic beverages. When shipping alcohol across state borders, both the law of the state from which the shipment is made and the law of the state in which it is received are relevant. And the commercial carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL only ship alcohol to and from licensed manufacturers, distributors, sellers, and importers.

In Florida, the regulation of alcohol is governed by state statutes that align with the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which repealed Prohibition and allowed states to control alcohol laws. The Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is responsible for overseeing the production, distribution, and sale of alcohol in the state. Florida law permits the shipment of alcohol into the state by licensed entities, but there are restrictions on direct shipments to consumers. For instance, wineries can ship to Florida residents under certain conditions, but retailers from other states generally cannot. When shipping alcohol into Florida, compliance with both Florida law and the laws of the originating state is required. Additionally, common carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL have policies in place that restrict the shipment of alcohol to and from licensed parties only, and they often require an adult signature upon delivery to ensure compliance with age restrictions.