By providing customers with the convenience of ordering alcohol delivery on DoorDash with their food orders, you can easily increase order volume. In fact, according to the 2024 Restaurant and Alcohol Online Ordering Trends Report, 40% of consumers report using on-demand alcohol delivery more than last year. As alcohol laws vary by state/region, please check your local guidelines.
Why should I offer alcohol in my store?
By including your in-store alcohol offerings on your DoorDash menu to reach consumers, you can help increase online sales, and make your restaurant stand out. In fact, 56% of millennials and 45% of Gen Z adults say the option of including alcohol with a takeout or delivery order would make them more likely to choose one restaurant over another. The benefits of including alcohol on your DoorDash menu include:
Built-in compliance measures: ID checks in the platform allow for compliant alcohol delivery. DoorDash has all required permits for alcohol delivery.
Sales growth: Adding alcohol to your menu can increase your profit margin.
How alcohol delivery works for restaurants
Adding alcohol delivery on your DoorDash menu can boost profits due to higher margins, creative food-drink pairings, and reduced waste compared to perishable ingredients. Here’s how it works for restaurants:
Consumer Ordering: Consumers browse your offerings on your website using Online Ordering or the DoorDash app.
Dasher requirement: You will need to check the Dasher’s ID at each pickup to make sure they are of legal drinking age.
Age Verification: DoorDash utilizes advanced technology to help validate a consumer’s ID and check that the ID is for an individual of legal drinking age. Additionally, Dashers perform a physical check of each ID, comparing the ID against the consumer to help ensure the ID matches, and also checks the ID for any evidence of fraud.
Undeliverable Orders: Where a consumer is underage, visibly intoxicated, or not present at the delivery time, the Dasher is prompted to not deliver the order.
How do I offer alcohol in my DoorDash store?
If you’re considering expanding your restaurant's offering to include alcohol, you will need to do the following:
Make sure you already have a valid liquor license to facilitate alcohol delivery in your state. You are required to have the appropriate license that allows alcohol delivery in order to add alcohol to your menu.
Go to your menu manager in the Merchant Portal, scroll down the page, and click “Review the required steps.”
Sign the alcohol addendum and fill out the required information.
Add alcohol items to your menu and ensure the alcohol tag is applied to each individual item.
3 Tips to increase your alcohol delivery sales
Here are the three tips to keep in mind when adding alcohol to your menu to help you succeed.
1. Advertise your alcohol delivery offerings
Promote your alcohol delivery services effectively by using on-premise signage, updating your DoorDash item descriptions, engaging on social media, and leveraging DoorDash marketing promotions.
2. Consider the Latest Drinking Trends
Stay ahead by offering creative food and drink pairings, seasonal specials, and staying updated on trends like low-ABV drinks, hard seltzer mixes, and niche beverages to attract diverse customers. In fact, according to the 2024 Restaurant and Alcohol Online Ordering Trends Report, consumers say their favorites are wine and champagne (59%), beer (56%), and ready-to-drink cocktails (56%).
3. Implement Dasher Pickup Best Practices
Verify Dasher IDs to ensure they are 21+ before handing off orders, seek their input for smoother pickups, and explore tips for improving the Dasher pickup experience from both Dashers and experienced business owners.
If you want to learn more, head over to Selling Alcohol on DoorDash.
Adding alcohol to your DoorDash menu is a great way to increase order volume, while helping your restaurant stand out. Consider even offering strategically market-curated packages for specific occasions that customers may be shopping for. How about a margarita bundle for Cinco de Mayo? Or a “Congrats!” bundle with prosecco and chocolates?
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