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DelawareSS 1 for SB 168153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)Senate

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.

Sponsored By: John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Alcohol delivery firms pay licensing fees

Third-party alcohol delivery firms must pay $1,000 for each two-year license period. This is a business licensing fee, not a direct household charge. The fee rule takes effect 6 months after enactment and expires 3 years after enactment unless extended by another law.

Alcohol sellers gain limited pickup and delivery

Delaware-recognized package stores, restaurants, and clubs can apply for licenses to sell spirits, wine, and beer for off-site drinking. Hotels, grocery stores, delis, convenience stores, drug stores, tobacco retailers, and cigar stores cannot use this license. Licensed sellers can buy from importers and sell bottles, half bottles, kegs, half-kegs, quarter kegs, and sixtels. Containers must remain sealed, except when a growler-filling permit allows filling and capping them on site. These licenses allow curbside pickup and delivery within 3 miles of the store, but not drinking on site. Other off-premise license holders covered by the law can also offer curbside pickup. A certified responsible alcohol server must handle sales and service on the premises; sales to people under 21 or intoxicated people are barred. For new licenses, existing alcohol sellers without on-site drinking are treated as the same establishment type; ownership transfers and renewals are excluded from this rule. The act takes effect 6 months after enactment and expires 3 years after enactment unless extended by another law.

Alcohol delivery firms face new safeguards

The law creates a licensed market for third-party alcohol delivery in Delaware. Providers must be registered to do business in Delaware and cannot also hold an off-premise alcohol license. Businesses mainly engaged in interstate shipping cannot qualify. Delivery workers, including employees and independent contractors, must be at least 21 and complete approved responsible-delivery training. Training covers age checks, acceptable and fake IDs, intoxication signs, refusal procedures, and ID scanning. Vendors must check matching photo identification and confirm recipients are at least 21 and not visibly intoxicated. Drinks must return to the seller when age or apparent sobriety cannot be verified. Vendors must keep recipients' names, birth dates, and delivery addresses for 2 years. Alcohol must travel in an inaccessible part of the vehicle, and deliveries must start at the seller that took the order. Deliveries must occur during legal sales hours and finish before midnight or one hour before closing, whichever is earlier. Delivery is barred outside Delaware and to listed destinations, including state facilities, correctional facilities, hospitals, schools, and undergraduate housing. Post office boxes and locker, mail, or package storage facilities are also excluded. Vendors charging package stores must use the same flat delivery fee for all stores contracting with them. Vendors must provide their contracts to regulators upon request. Sellers remain the merchant of record for website or app orders. Once a licensed vendor takes possession, the seller's delivery duties are satisfied, and the vendor's actions are not attributed to the seller. These rules take effect 6 months after enactment and expire 3 years after enactment unless extended by another law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • John "Jack" Walsh

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • William Bush

    Democratic • House

  • Marie Pinkney

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 56 • No: 1

House vote • 6/25/2026

Passed (2/3 required)

Yes: 36 • No: 1

Senate vote • 6/9/2026

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 20 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor

    7/23/2026Governor

  2. Passed By House. Votes: 36 YES 1 NO 4 ABSENT

    6/25/2026House

  3. Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 4 On Its Merits

    6/23/2026House

  4. Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House

    6/16/2026House

  5. Reported Out of Committee (Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce) in House with 10 On Its Merits

    6/16/2026House

  6. Assigned to Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee in House

    6/10/2026House

  7. Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT

    6/9/2026Senate

  8. Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits

    5/20/2026Senate

  9. Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate

    5/13/2026Senate

  10. Reported Out of Committee (Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 6 On Its Merits

    5/13/2026Senate

  11. Adopted in lieu of the original bill SB 168, and Assigned to Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee in Senate

    4/21/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Current

    4/21/2026

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