Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What are the Post Office's restrictions on shipping alcoholic beverages domestically?
The Post Office allows domestic shipping of alcoholic beverages with two key limits: - Maximum **1 litre** per shipment - Maximum **70% ABV** — spirits and high-proof drinks above this threshold cannot be posted These are firm caps; anything exceeding either limit will be refused.
What is the correct process for declaring and exporting sample bottles internationally?
When exporting sample bottles internationally, use a commercial invoice that clearly declares the contents as samples rather than goods for resale, but assign a nominal value (e.g. €4.50 per bottle) rather than marking them as €0. This helps avoid customs complications. **Key practices:** - Mark packages clearly with 'Samples not for resale' or similar language - Use a priority shipping service for faster transit - Include a commercial invoice with sample status and nominal per-unit pricing stated **Sampling support:** Members have used **Hels Angels** (wearehels.com) to source people to help execute sampling campaigns if you need boots-on-the-ground support in target markets.