Liquor Delivery Service - Regulatory Requirements

This page provides information for Liquor Delivery Service licensees and their employees and contractors about the regulatory requirements for this licence. The information is not an exhaustive or definitive examination of the requirements in the Liquor Licence Act and its regulations.

It is the licensee’s responsibility to ensure they and their employees and contractors are informed of the laws, regulations, and any conditions affecting their licence.

The Liquor Delivery Service Licence

A Liquor Delivery Service Licence allows the licensee to deliver liquor purchased or obtained from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) or Brewers Retail Inc. (The Beer Store), any manufacturer’s on-site or off-site retail store or an eligible liquor licensed establishment to individuals for a fee. A licence holder is not selling liquor – the Liquor Delivery Service is an agent for another person who is legally entitled to purchase liquor or the liquor licensed establishment or retail store that is directing the delivery of an order to a customer. Liquor may not be purchased or obtained prior to receiving an order.

Where acting on behalf of a liquor licensed establishment, the Liquor Delivery Service must do so under an arrangement with the establishment for that purpose.

You may operate the delivery service as your primary business, or in conjunction with other compatible services such as taxi, courier or food or grocery delivery business. If the Liquor Delivery Service licence is held directly or indirectly by an authorized grocery store selling beer, wine or cider, the licensee cannot purchase alcohol from that grocery store.

Once an order has been placed, you may purchase or obtain the requested liquor at any government store or a store authorized under the Liquor Control Act. This includes the LCBO, The Beer Store and any manufacturer’s on-site or off-site retail store (such as a retail wine store). Liquor with food orders can also be purchased or obtained from eligible liquor licensed establishments.

A Liquor Deliver Service licensee can deliver on behalf of an eligible liquor licensed establishment or on behalf of certain retail stores. Customers can order directly from an eligible liquor licensed establishment or retail store who then engages the Liquor Delivery Service to complete delivery.

Liquor must only be delivered to a residence or private place. The licence holder must ensure that drinks are not tampered with or opened.

A Liquor Delivery Service must operate only under the business name set out on its licence. The AGCO must be notified of any changes in ownership.

All individuals purchasing or delivering liquor must be at least 18 years of age and carry a copy of the Liquor Delivery Service licence. Licence holders (and any employees and contractors) must understand the obligations under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 and its regulations.

Record Keeping

All orders for liquor placed with a Liquor Delivery Service, whether for delivery from a liquor sales licensee or retail store, must include the following information, along with the licence holder’s name and address:

• The name and address of the customer;
• The date on which the liquor is purchased, and the date on which it is to be delivered;
• The kinds and quantities of liquor to be delivered; and,
• The address where the liquor is to be delivered.

The licence holder must keep the above noted records for each order for one year from the date of delivery. 

In addition, for deliveries by a liquor delivery licensee from a retail store, the licensee must also keep, for one year, a copy of every order given to the licensee by the retail store.

Delivery Hours

The permissible hours for the delivery of liquor by a Liquor Delivery Service are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. for liquor purchased or obtained from eligible liquor licensed establishments and from retail stores. 

Storage of Liquor

Liquor Delivery Service licensees are allowed to store liquor that has been ordered by a customer from an authorized retail store or an eligible liquor licensed establishment.

Liquor must be stored securely before delivery and accessible only to the licensees (including employees and contractors). Storage is not be permissible in a dwelling and the delivery service must ensure that the liquor is not opened or tampered with.

Liquor that cannot be delivered must be returned to the store or licensed liquor establishment from which it was purchased or obtained for a refund.

Social Responsibility Requirements

A Liquor Delivery Service cannot deliver liquor to, or allow a delivery to be accepted by, anyone under 19 years of age.

If it is suspected that a person is underage, you must check his/her identification. Identification must reasonably appear to have been issued by a government and include the person’s photograph and date of birth.

Acceptable forms of ID include:

• an Ontario Driver’s Licence with photo;
• a Canadian passport;
• a Canadian Citizenship Card with photo;
• a Canadian Armed Forces Identification Card with photo;
• an LCBO BYID photo card;
• a secure Indian Status Card (Canadian);
• a Permanent Resident Card (Canadian);
• a photo card issued under the Photo Card Act.

Licensees also must make sure that they do not supply or deliver liquor to anyone who is or appears to be intoxicated. or appears to be intoxicated.

Agreements with Manufacturers

Licence holders may enter into non-exclusive agreements with liquor manufacturers with on-site retail stores or winery off-site retail stores and The Beer Store to facilitate or promote the delivery of liquor. Where a Liquor Delivery Service chooses to enter into such agreements, they cannot restrict a Liquor Delivery Service or manufacturer from entering into further agreements with other manufacturers.