If you’re moving house and have a well-stocked bar (or a valuable wine collection, or a collection of craft beer, etc.), you will probably want to take your alcohol with you.
Moving alcohol, however, is more of a challenge than you may think – liquor bottles are fragile and can easily break during the relocation; wine and other types of alcohol are sensitive to extreme temperatures and can easily get spoiled during a move; many states have restrictions on the amount of alcohol you can bring in for personal use; etc. On top of it all, alcohol is highly flammable, so it is considered a hazardous material.
The last fact alone is quite a problem – moving companies do not allow hazardous items on their trucks for safety reasons.
Will movers move alcohol then? Will you be able to have your liquor transported to your new home with the rest of your possessions or not?
The answer is usually “yes”, as long as the bottles are properly sealed. There are, however, a few things to keep in mind:
Why is there even a question of whether movers will move alcohol?
Movers move all kinds of household items and personal belongings, so why wouldn’t they move alcohol?
Professional movers may not agree to move alcohol either because of state regulations or due to the high risk of transporting flammable materials.
Many states prohibit the transportation of open containers of alcoholic beverages of any kind. This means that the movers can transport your liquor bottles only if they’re closed and sealed (so there is no risk of leaks and spills – and no risk of drunk driving either). If you have opened bottles of alcohol, your movers may not agree to take them – and if they do, you will have to pack the bottles in a tightly sealed container.
Furthermore, there are things professional movers don’t allow on their trucks for legal or safety reasons. (See also: What not to pack when moving)
Wondering what movers won’t move? Non-allowable items typically include irreplaceable items, pets and plants, perishable items, and hazardous items – anything that can cause damage to the moving truck or to the goods inside the moving truck, cause harm to the environment, or pose health risks to the movers or anyone else.
Since alcohol is highly flammable, if it accidentally ignites during the move (in case the moving truck gets into an accident, for example), it can cause a lot of damage and pose serious health threats. This makes transporting alcohol very risky, so movers are rather cautious about it.
So, can movers move alcohol? Yes, they can, as long as they comply with the state regulations.
But will movers move liquor? It depends on the company.
Will moving companies move alcohol?
As already discussed above, professional movers will most likely agree to take your alcohol bottles, provided that they’re properly sealed.
Yet, every company has its own policy on transporting alcohol, so the only way to find out whether a mover will or won’t move alcohol is to ask them.
Be sure to address the issue well in advance – when requesting on-site estimates from the movers (there is no point in getting an estimate from a company that doesn’t move alcohol).
If the movers agree to move your alcohol, ask for any special requirements and conditions. Be sure to pack the bottles exactly as advised.
Good to remember:
1) It is a very bad idea to include liquor bottles in your shipment without the knowledge of the movers. If the alcohol is discovered, you will be fined – and if you have violated any state laws, the company will report you. Besides, if an accident occurs and the alcohol ignites, you’ll be liable for all the damage.
2) Keep in mind that each state has different rules regarding alcohol transportation. So, when moving alcohol across state lines, be sure to check with the Alcohol Beverage Control authorities of your destination state and the states you’ll be passing through – to avoid any trouble.
How to pack alcohol for moving
Whether your movers have agreed to take your alcohol or you plan to transport it in your own vehicle, it’s extremely important to pack the liquor bottles properly, so they stay safe and intact during the relocation.
Here is how to pack liquor bottles for moving the right way:
1. Get the right packing supplies
Liquor bottles are very heavy and very fragile, so to ensure their safety during the move, you’re going to need sturdy boxes and plenty of cushioning materials.
Specialized alcohol moving boxes are your best bet – they’re very strong and come with dividers that keep the bottles snugly in place and prevent them from coming in contact with one another during the move. These boxes are not cheap, but they’re ideal for moving alcohol.
You may be able to get used alcohol moving boxes for free from local liquor stores or big supermarkets – just make sure the boxes are not too worn or damaged in any way. (See also: Where to find free moving boxes; Major risks of using free moving boxes)
If you don’t want to spend too much money on packing materials and can’t find free cell boxes, you can use standard moving boxes (small to medium-sized), but you will have to wrap your liquor bottles in several layers of protective materials and to add plenty of cushioning inside the cartons.
When packing alcohol for moving, in addition to boxes, you’re also going to need packing paper and packing tape (plus some padding materials if you’re not using specialized alcohol moving boxes).
2. Wrap the liquor bottles in packing paper
It is not necessary to wrap the bottles when packing them in a cell box (though it is still a good idea), but it is crucial to do so when using a regular moving box:
- Place a stack of packing paper on a flat surface;
- Lay a bottle on its side on the paper, diagonally to the corner;
- Take two to three sheets of paper from the corner and wrap them as one around the bottle, rolling the bottle as you go;
- Mold the bottle’s neck as you roll to ensure it is tightly wrapped;
- Fold over the ends of the paper at the top and bottom of the bottle;
- Secure the wrapping with tape.
3. Put the bottles in the boxes
Reinforce the bottoms of the moving boxes with packing tape (when using old cell boxes or standard cardboard boxes), line them with packing paper (when using regular moving boxes), and put the bottles inside the packing containers:
- Place each bottle into a separate cell (when using specialized alcohol moving boxes);
- Arrange the bottles one next to the other and provide plenty of cushioning between them (pieces of bubble wrap, crumpled paper, packing peanuts, etc.), so they can’t shift and come in contact with one another during the move (when using regular moving boxes).
Fill any remaining empty space inside the boxes with cushioning materials to prevent shifting during transportation.
Good to remember: Be careful not to overload the boxes! Remember that liquor bottles are quite heavy, so you can easily surpass the safe weight limit of 40-45 pounds per box when packing alcohol for moving – and if a box becomes too heavy, it may collapse under its own weight (which will result in broken liquor bottles and spilled alcohol and may even lead to personal injuries (if the broken glass cuts someone) or property damage (if a falling bottle hits a delicate surface)).
Specialized alcohol moving boxes are strong enough to withstand the weight of the boxes they’re designed to hold (either 6 or 12), so there is no risk of overloading them. When using regular moving boxes, however, you have no way of knowing how many bottles they can safely hold, so you need to weigh the boxes as you’re packing them – when a box becomes heavier than 40 pounds, you shouldn’t pack any more alcohol bottles in it, even if there is still space (fill the empty space with cushioning materials or some soft, lightweight items such as oven mitts or kitchen towels).
4. Seal the boxes and label them properly
When the alcohol moving boxes are full, close them and seal them tightly with packing tape.
Label the cartons with their contents, mark them as FRAGILE, indicate which side is up, and write HANDLE WITH CARE on at least two sides of the boxes.
Bonus tips for moving alcohol
1) If you’re moving a valuable wine collection across the country, inquire about a climate-controlled truck – especially if you’re moving during the summer or during the winter. Moving trucks become very hot in summer and very cold in winter – and extreme temperatures can ruin the flavor of your wine and leave it tasting bland or sour (wine should be kept at a temperature of 50-55 degrees). So, to preserve the quality of your wines, you need to transport them in a climate-controlled vehicle. Using a climate-controlled moving truck will cost you more, but it will ensure the safety of your wine collection. (See also: How to move my wine collection)
2) If your wine collection is very valuable, have it appraised before the move and buy appropriate insurance – to be on the safe side if something happens during the relocation. (See also: Types of moving insurance)
3) Remember that the more alcohol bottles you move to your new home, the higher your moving costs will be. So, you may want to consider giving away some of your alcohol to family and friends before the move (liquor that has no special value to you and you don’t particularly like) – it will make your relocation cheaper and easier. Besides, alcohol bottles make great gifts! (See also: How to cut down moving costs)
