Alcohol delivery in Oregon is now permanent — and with it comes a set of training requirements that vary depending on who is making the delivery. Whether you are a licensee setting up a delivery program or a delivery person trying to understand what credentials you need, this post breaks it all down.
Timeline of Alcohol Delivery in Oregon
In 2020, the COVID pandemic shutdowns brought about major hardships for the food and beverage industry. Declaring an emergency, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) temporarily loosened restrictions and allowed restaurants to start selling cocktails to-go.
Taking effect January 1, 2022, Senate Bill 317 codified many of the temporary privileges, further allowing holders of full on-premises sales licenses to make retail sales of mixed drinks and single servings of wine for off-premises consumption.
House Bill 3308 authorized the OLCC to issue delivery permits to qualified applicants for the delivery of alcoholic beverages to final consumers.
In response to House Bill 3308, temporary rules took effect in January 2024 allowing the delivery of alcoholic beverages to final consumers. The OLCC completed permanent rulemaking in June 2024, with OLCC 7-2024 filed on June 21, 2024 and taking effect June 28, 2024, making alcohol delivery a permanent fixture of Oregon liquor law.
What OLCC Liquor Licensees Can Deliver Alcohol in Oregon?
Not all license types are eligible to deliver alcohol in Oregon. The following license types may deliver alcohol directly to a final consumer:
- Full On-Premises Sales
- Limited On-Premises Sales
- Off-Premises Sales
- Brewery-Public House
- Brewery
- Winery
- Grower Sales Privilege
- Temporary Sales
- Direct Shipper Permit (malt beverages, wine and cider only)
- Any other authorization as determined by the OLCC by rule
Note: Delivery rules vary depending on license type and the type of alcohol being delivered. For a full breakdown, see our blog post: Oregon Alcohol Delivery Laws.
The Three Types of Alcohol Delivery Entities in Oregon
Oregon law distinguishes between three types of entities involved in alcohol delivery. Understanding the difference matters because training requirements vary depending on which category applies to you.
Licensee’s Own Employees
A licensee may use their own employees to make deliveries directly to a final consumer. The licensee is responsible for ensuring their delivery employees meet all training and credentialing requirements.
Example: A delivery driver employed directly by a restaurant who delivers cocktails to-go to customers’ homes.
Third-Party Delivery Facilitators (TPDFs)
A third-party delivery facilitator is a company that facilitates the delivery of alcohol on behalf of a licensee. TPDFs must hold a valid OLCC-issued Third-Party Delivery Facilitator permit, which must be renewed annually at a cost of $500. Delivery persons working for a TPDF are subject to their own set of requirements, which differ from those that apply to a licensee’s own employees.
Example: A DoorDash, Uber Eats or Grubhub driver who delivers alcohol on behalf of a restaurant.
For-Hire Carriers
A for-hire carrier is a motor carrier, freight forwarder, or air carrier as defined under federal law. For-hire carriers are explicitly carved out of Oregon’s delivery person and TPDF requirements — they are not subject to the same training or credentialing rules.
Example: A FedEx or UPS driver who ships sealed boxes of wine from a winery to an Oregon resident.
Training Requirements for Alcohol Delivery in Oregon
All delivery persons must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license or other state-issued ID. Beyond that, training requirements differ depending on who employs the delivery person.
Licensee’s Own Employees
A licensee’s own delivery employee must have one of the following:
- A valid OLCC Service Permit
- A valid Temporary OLCC Service Permit
- Completion of an OLCC-approved Alcohol Delivery Training Program within the last five years
Third-Party Delivery Facilitator (TPDF) Employees
A delivery person working for a TPDF has a narrower set of qualifying credentials. A service permit alone does not qualify. They must have:
- Completion of an OLCC-approved Alcohol Delivery Training Program within the last three years
- A valid certificate of completion of the training program issued within the last three years
Additionally, a TPDF delivery person may be disqualified based on criminal background in three categories: felony violent crime convictions, felony drug convictions, and liquor law convictions. For more information, see OAR 845-005-0421(10)(b).
Quick Reference: Training Requirements by Delivery Type
| Licensee’s Own Employee | TPDF Employee | |
| Minimum Age | 18 | 18 |
| Valid ID Required | Yes | Yes |
| Service Permit Qualifies | Yes | No |
| Delivery Training Program Qualifies | Yes (within 5 years) | Yes (within 3 years) |
For-Hire Carriers
For-hire carriers are not subject to OLCC training requirements. As federally regulated carriers, any training obligations they may have fall under federal law, not Oregon liquor law.
What Is an OLCC-Approved Alcohol Delivery Training Program?
The OLCC Alcohol Delivery Training course is a separate program from the standard Alcohol Server Education course. It contains delivery-specific information not covered in the Server Education course.
To be approved by the OLCC, a delivery training program must include training on at least the following:
- Forms of identification required by ORS 471.130 and methods for identifying, inspecting, accepting, or rejecting identification
- Signs of visible intoxication and methods for recognizing these signs and for refusing to deliver alcoholic beverages to a final consumer
- Rules adopted by the Commission relating to the delivery of alcoholic beverages to a final consumer
For TPDF delivery persons specifically, the training must be provided either by the TPDF itself or by another party under contract with the TPDF.
Several providers have already submitted training courses that have been approved by the OLCC. Tyler Glaze ([email protected]) at the OLCC verifies provider compliance and can answer questions about approved programs and requirements.
How Do I Get Started with Alcohol Delivery in Oregon?
If you are a licensee looking to offer alcohol delivery, the first step is making sure your license type is eligible and that your delivery employees meet the training requirements outlined above.
If you are a delivery person working for a licensee, check whether you hold a valid OLCC Service Permit or have completed an OLCC-approved Alcohol Delivery Training Program within the last five years.
Craft Serving offers an Oregon Alcohol Server Education course that satisfies the service permit requirement for alcohol delivery in Oregon by a licensees’ own delivery employees.
⚖️ Oregon Laws and Rules Referenced in This Article
- ORS 471.521 — Definitions for ORS 471.521 to 471.537
- ORS 471.282 — Direct Shipper Permit
- OAR 845-006-0391 — Delivery of Alcoholic Beverages to Individuals — Definitions
- OAR 845-006-0392 — Requirements for Delivery of Manufacturer-Sealed and Securely-Covered Containers of Wine and Cider to a Final Consumer
- OAR 845-006-0396 — Requirements for Delivery of Manufacturer-Sealed and Securely-Covered Containers of Malt Beverages to a Final Consumer
- OAR 845-006-0399 — Sale of Mixed Drinks and Single Servings of Wine by Full On-Premises Sales Licensees for Off-Premises Consumption and Delivery to a Final Consumer
- OAR 845-005-0421 – Third-Party Delivery Facilitator Permit Qualifications, Requirements, and Authorizations
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