Regulatory Provisions

Del. Code tit. 4, ch. 7
in effect

Del. Code tit. 4, § 701 Persons authorized to make sale and delivery of alcoholic liquors.

(a) No sale and delivery of alcoholic liquor shall be made in this State unless by a manufacturer or other person who holds a license of the Commissioner to sell and deliver alcoholic liquor and unless the sale and delivery is made to a person who is authorized to receive alcoholic liquor under Chapter 5 of this title. (b) No common carrier shall be held responsible for the delivery of alcoholic liquor forbidden by this section. (c) The Commissioner shall permit the holders of a license under §§ 531-533 of this title to receive or pick up beer in the barrel or keg directly from a manufacturer, importer or any other person authorized by this title to sell and deliver alcoholic liquor, notwithstanding any provisions of this title to the contrary. (d) The Commissioner may permit an off-site caterer to transport alcoholic liquor in accordance with the Commissioner’s rules.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 702 Delivery of alcohol or spirits by manufacturer or importer.

The Commissioner may issue a written order signed by the Commissioner authorizing a manufacturer or importer to deliver alcohol or spirits in specified quantity to a person who holds a license to sell such alcohol or spirits, but not more than 1 delivery shall be specified or made on the same order.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 703 Sale and delivery of wine or beer by manufacturer or importer.

No manufacturer or importer shall sell, ship, transport or deliver wine or beer within this State to any person unless in accordance with the published regulations of the Commissioner and unless a statement of the date, amount and description of the transaction be mailed to the Commissioner.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 704 Commissioner regulation of wine or beer sales.

The Commissioner may make a regulation authorizing a manufacturer or importer to sell, transport or deliver wine or beer within this State to any person or class of persons authorized under this title to receive wine or beer.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 705 Containers for sale and delivery of beer for consumption off premises.

No sale and delivery of beer, for consumption off the premises where sold, shall be made in open containers, but sales or delivery may be made in bottles, half bottles, barrels, half barrels or quarter barrels, if such containers are securely corked, capped, stopped or plugged at the time delivery thereof is made.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 706 Sale or service of alcoholic liquors to intoxicated person.

Any licensee, or employee of a licensee, or person in charge of a licensed premises shall refuse to sell or serve alcoholic liquors to any individual if such individual is intoxicated or appears to be intoxicated. Such licensee, employee of a licensee or person in charge of the licensed premises shall not be liable to any individual for damages claimed to arise from the refusal to sell alcoholic liquors if such refusal is based upon this section.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 707 Home manufacture of beer or wine for personal consumption.

(a) No license or special permit shall be required for the manufacture within homes, or other premises used in connection therewith, of beer in quantities of 200 gallons or less during any calendar year, or wine in quantities of 200 gallons or less during any calendar year, for the personal consumption only of the homeowner(s), their families or their guests; provided however, that such beer or wine shall not be offered for sale. (b) Such beer or wine, when manufactured and used as set forth above, shall not be subject to any taxes imposed by the Liquor Control Act. (c) Beer and wine manufactured pursuant to this section may be removed from the home and transported for personal or family use, and in addition may be transported for the purposes of participating in club-sponsored events and tasting competitions. (d) Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter or title, concentrated alcoholic beverages are not “home-manufactured beer or wine” for purposes of this section, and all Commissioner regulations and tax requirements concerning home-manufactured beer or wine shall not apply to concentrated alcoholic beverages.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 708 Prohibition of sales to certain persons [Effective until Oct. 21, 2026].

(a) A person or licensee may not sell any alcoholic liquor to any of the following: (1) An individual who has not reached the age of 21 years. In any prosecution for an offense under this paragraph (a)(1) it is an affirmative defense that the individual, who has not reached the age of 21 years, presented to the accused identification, with a photograph of the individual affixed on the identification, and the identification sets forth information that would lead a reasonable person to believe the individual was 21 years of age or older. (2) A person to whom such sale is prohibited. (3) [Repealed.] (b) A sale made to any person mentioned in this section, other than an individual who has not reached the age of 21 years, does not constitute a misdemeanor unless the Commissioner, the Division, or both has informed the seller, by registered letter, that it is forbidden to sell to such person or unless the fact is otherwise known to the seller.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 709 Prohibition of sales and delivery at certain times [Effective until Oct. 21, 2026, and until meeting the contingency in 82 Del. Laws, c. 193, § 5].

(a) No entity licensed pursuant to § 501 of this title or importer shall sell or deliver alcoholic liquor on Sundays, Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas or at hours other than those prescribed by the rules or regulations of the Commissioner, except as subsection (f) of this section may apply. An importer may receive and process orders on any day, including Sundays and holidays. (b) No holder of a license for the sale of alcoholic liquors for off-premises consumption shall sell or deliver the same on Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas or between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on Mondays through Saturdays, except as subsection (f) of this section may apply, and on Sundays before 10:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. Any municipality with a population of 50,000 or more may limit sales within the boundaries of the municipality pursuant to this subsection to a maximum of 4 hours on Sundays as established by ordinance of the municipality. The closing hours for days of the week other than Sunday may be made earlier in any municipality having a population of 50,000 or more persons, by ordinance of the municipal corporation; provided however, that such ordinance be consistent with the Delaware state and federal constitutions as well as treat all businesses fairly. During the months of October through December a holder of a license for the sale of alcoholic liquor for off-premises consumption shall be permitted to have sales take place beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Fridays through Saturdays. (c) (1) Except as provided by paragraph (c)(2) of this section, a holder of a license for the sale of alcoholic liquor for on-premises consumption may not sell the same between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Except for entities under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, the closing hour may be made earlier in any municipality by ordinance of the municipal corporation. The sale of alcoholic liquors by a licensee for consumption on the premises where sold shall be permitted on every day of the year; provided, that no licensee shall be required to be open to sell alcoholic liquors on Sundays, Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas. (2) Entities who hold a license under this title as a horse racetrack may sell alcoholic liquor until 2:00 a.m. for on-premises consumption. (d) Any holder of a license to sell alcoholic liquor, for either on-premises consumption or off-premises consumption, who wishes to sell alcoholic liquors on Sundays, except a gathering license, shall pay a biennial license fee of $500 for the issuance of a special license to serve alcoholic liquors on Sundays, which shall be in addition to any other license fees which may be required of the licensee. If a licensee holds a license to sell for on-premises consumption and off-premises consumption it shall only be required to purchase 1 special license if it wishes to serve alcoholic liquors on Sunday. (e) In the municipalities and other political subdivisions of this State where daylight saving time is observed, whether authorized by law or by custom, daylight saving time shall apply to the hours mentioned in this section for the period during which daylight saving time exists. (f) Importers or holders of a license for the sale of spirits, wines or beer may deliver beer on Sundays in motor vehicles equipped with permanently-installed devices for the refrigeration and dispensing of beer to licensed gatherings only; provided, however, that such licensee shall have first given notice of such delivery to the Commissioner. (g), (h) [Repealed.]

Del. Code tit. 4, § 710 Reports by importers.

The Commissioner shall require every importer to make a monthly report of the importer’s manufacture, purchases, stocks and sales of alcoholic liquor to the Commissioner.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 711 Refilling bottles.

Alcoholic liquor in bottles, procured by the holder of a license to resell for the purpose of delivering the same to consumers, shall be kept in the bottles in which it was procured. As long as any such bottle bears the mark or label which it bore when delivered, no other alcoholic liquor, substance or liquid shall be put therein, and no holder of a license, nor anyone on the licensee’s behalf, after the alcoholic liquor bottled in 1 of the bottles has been poured out, may refill the bottle, either wholly or in part, with intent to supply alcoholic liquor or any other substance or liquid to any consumer.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 712 Label on bottle.

(a) A holder of a license may not use or allow the use of any mark or label on a bottle, in which alcoholic liquor is kept for sale, that does not precisely and clearly indicate the nature of the contents of the bottle or that might in any way deceive any consumer as to the nature, composition, or quality of the contents. (b) If a licensee prepares infused beverages or batched cocktails, the preparation and labeling of the infused beverages or batched cocktails must comply with the rules established by the Commissioner and each batched or infused cocktail container must be clearly labeled with every ingredient and the date the infused beverage or batched cocktail was made.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 713 Mixing unauthorized with authorized liquor.

No person shall, for any reason, mix or permit the mixing of or cause to be mixed any alcoholic liquor which is not authorized to be sold with any alcoholic liquor the sale of which is authorized to be sold.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 714 Places for keeping spirits, wines or beer.

No person shall keep spirits, wines or beer in the State except: (1) In an establishment licensed by the Commissioner to sell alcoholic liquor; (2) In an establishment where it is expressly permitted by the Commissioner to keep alcoholic liquor; (3) In an establishment where, by exception, it is permitted by law to keep alcoholic liquors; (4) In the residence of any person, provided the alcoholic liquor is not kept with intent to sell the same, but one sale shall suffice to establish such intent; (5) In the office of a physician, pharmacist or veterinarian for medicinal purposes only, and in the office of a clergyman for sacramental purposes only; (6) In the baggage of an individual who is transporting alcoholic liquor for such individual’s use; (7) In a church, chapel, or other place for religious worship or a dependence thereof where sacramental wine may be kept.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 715 Places for keeping alcohol.

No person shall keep alcohol in the State, except: (1) In the establishment of a pharmacist, physician, dentist, veterinarian, wholesale druggist, university, college, school or manufacturing plant where the alcohol is used in industrial or scientific work or for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products where it is expressly permitted by the Commissioner to keep alcohol; (2) In a distillery licensed by the Commissioner to manufacture alcohol.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 716 Transportation of spirits, wines or beer.

No person shall transport spirits, wines or beer in this State, except: (1) Directly from one establishment in this State to another establishment belonging to or leased by the same person, provided he or she holds a license to transport alcoholic liquor; or (2) Directly from the establishment of a holder of a license to sell and to deliver such alcoholic liquor to the establishment of a like holder of a license to sell; or (3) Directly from the establishment of a person who is the holder of a license to transport alcoholic liquor to a place outside this State; or (4) An individual who is transporting alcoholic liquor for his or her personal use or the use of his or her family or guests; or (5) An individual importing alcoholic liquors into the State, the daily quantity of which does not exceed the amount permitted by federal statutes governing the importation of alcoholic liquors into the United States.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 717 Transportation of alcohol.

No person shall transport alcohol in the State, except where it is expressly permitted by the Commissioner to transport such alcohol.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 718 Shipping and transporting alcoholic liquor.

(a) If alcoholic liquor is to be shipped to a point within the State by other than the manufacturer or importer thereof, the transportation thereof outside of the municipality in which the establishment of the seller is situated, shall be made only by a common carrier or, if not contrary to the rules of the Commissioner, by the purchaser on condition that it is transported in a vehicle owned or hired by the purchaser directly to the purchaser’s residence or, if the purchaser is the holder of a license to sell, to the purchaser’s establishment, but such transportation shall not be by the seller nor by any employee, agent or representative of the seller, nor by any other person interested in the sale. (b) If alcoholic liquor is to be shipped to a point within or without this State by the manufacturer or importer thereof, the shipment shall only be made by common carrier, by vehicle owned or hired by the manufacturer or importer, or employee of the manufacturer or importer, under the rules of the Commissioner. “Shipped,” as used in this subsection, shall mean any movement of alcoholic beverage to any location other than the manufacturer’s or importer’s storage location. (c) If the transportation of alcoholic liquor be effected by a common carrier, the individual transporting or in charge of the transportation of such alcoholic liquor shall have in such individual’s possession and produce upon request a waybill or other evidence of authorized shipment containing the name and address of the shipper and the name and address of the consignee.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 719 Distillery and wine manufacturer.

(a) No provision of this title shall prevent any distillery or brewery, duly licensed by the United States or by this State to manufacture alcohol or spirits in this State, or any wine manufacturer in this State from having or keeping for sale in the manufacturer’s establishment in this State the alcoholic liquor so licensed to be manufactured by the manufacturer or from selling or delivering the same in accordance with the provisions of this title. (b) If alcoholic liquor is to be shipped by a distillery or manufacturer to a place within this State, the distillery or manufacturer may sell it only to the Commissioner or under the published rules of the Commissioner and the distillery or manufacturer shall in every case comply with every other applicable provision of this title. (c) The Commissioner may, upon the conditions it determines, grant to any distillery, duly licensed by the United States or by this State to manufacture alcohol or spirits in this State, a special license authorizing the distillery to purchase and to import, from such persons as are entitled to sell the same, wines or spirits to be used for the sole purpose of blending with and flavoring such products. (d) No provision of this title shall prevent the Commissioner from agreeing to the sale and delivery of potable and non-potable alcohol from a distillery direct to a manufacturer of articles requiring such alcohol, if such sale and delivery be made subject to such conditions as the Commissioner publishes.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 720 Storage of alcoholic liquors.

All holders of licenses for the sale of alcoholic liquor in a tavern, restaurant or taproom, and as to the public sale portions of the premises covered by holders of a hotel or club license, shall store all alcoholic liquor in adequate storage facilities and the premises, or the part of the premises where such alcoholic liquor is stored if a hotel or club, must be locked before the last person leaves the licensed premises.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 721 Brewery.

No provision of this title shall prevent the Commissioner from authorizing any brewery to sell and to deliver beer to any person in this State who holds a license to receive and resell beer, if a duplicate bill of each sale is filed with or mailed to the Commissioner, provided that the Commissioner shall not authorize the resale and delivery of beer to licensees within this State by any brewery whose total domestic sales, when including all affiliated licenses whether in or out of this State, exceeds 6 million barrels of beer in a single calendar year.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 722 Physicians, dentists, veterinarians and pharmacists.

(a) No provision of this title shall prevent any individual who is licensed in this State to practice medicine, surgery or obstetrics, or dentistry, or veterinary medicine or surgery from purchasing alcoholic liquor in quantities larger than 1 bottle and keeping and using the same for purposes of solution or sterilization in the licensed individual’s own practice, or in making a preparation for external application to be administered by the licensed individual, or from purchasing brandy, as defined in the United States Pharmacopoeia, or rum, for use in compounding the licensed individual’s medicines. (b) No owner, lessee or manager conducting a pharmacy or drugstore shall sell or dispense, on the premises conducted as a pharmacy or drugstore, alcoholic liquor for any other purpose than medicinal, scientific and industrial purposes. No provision of this title shall prevent any holder of a license for a pharmacy under § 517 of this title from: (1) Purchasing alcoholic liquor in quantities larger than 1 bottle, for use in medicinal, official or pharmaceutical preparations, but no such person may sell such alcoholic liquor except when contained in such preparations or when filling a prescription, or an order of an individual holder of license under § 518 of this title; or (2) Purchasing ethyl alcohol in quantities larger than 1 bottle, and selling the same for obstetrical or antiseptic purposes only, in quantities not exceeding 16 ounces, upon prescription of an individual practicing medicine, surgery or obstetrics and registered as such in this State, or upon the certificate of the latter if the sale be made to the pharmacy license holder personally.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 723 Disposition of stock of insolvent, deceased or former licensee.

(a) In the case of a seizure of alcoholic liquor under any judgment rendered against the holder of any license or in the case of insolvency of such person, the officer seizing such alcoholic liquor or the trustee in bankruptcy of such license holder shall provide the Commissioner an inventory of the alcoholic liquor found in the possession of the judgment debtor or bankrupt. The Commissioner shall cause notice to be delivered to all importers who sell product on the inventory. All importers shall pick up all saleable products (as determined by the Commissioner in the event of a dispute) that they sell at that time. (b) The importer shall determine the value of the saleable inventory by determining the cost to a retail licensee on the same day as the alcoholic liquor is picked up. (c) The importer may retain up to 5% of the value of the saleable inventory as a handling or restocking fee. (d) In the event the licensee from whom the alcoholic liquor was seized owes the Importer an amount equal to or greater than the net of subsections (b) and (c) of this section above, the importer shall advise the Commissioner, the debtor or bankrupt, and the seizing authority of its calculations and credit the debtor’s or bankrupt’s account appropriately. (e) In the event the licensee from whom the alcoholic liquor was seized owes the importer less than the net of subsections (b) and (c) of this section above, the importer shall, within 10 days of seizure, pay the difference of the net of subsections (b) and (c) of this section above and the licensee’s obligation to the importer to the officer or the trustee, and shall advise the Commissioner, the debtor or bankrupt, and the seizing authority of its calculations and credit the debtor’s or bankrupt’s account appropriately. (f) No payment shall be made for illegally acquired alcoholic liquor so delivered. (g) Any dispute as to the value or saleable condition of the alcohol shall be determined by the Commissioner. Any dispute as to the amount of the obligations of the parties to each other shall be determined by the court or its designee.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 724 Retaliatory beer tax and regulations; violations by out-of-state manufacturers of beer; hearing, penalties and appeal.

(a) In addition to compliance with all other provisions of this title, the Commissioner shall require each person, not a licensee of this State, who desires to sell beer manufactured outside this State to licensees of this State, to pay to the Commissioner the same fee or fees as are required to be paid in the State, territory or country of origin of such beer by a person, not a licensee thereof, who desires to sell beer manufactured in this State to licensees of such state, territory or country of origin, and to observe and comply with the same regulations, prohibitions and restrictions as are required of or enforced against a person who desires to sell beer manufactured in this State to licensees in the said state, territory or country of origin. In all cases where the Commissioner has issued any reciprocal regulations or orders concerning beer manufactured in any state, territory or country other than this State no licensee of this State shall purchase any such beer if its importation has been prohibited or if not entirely prohibited, unless such regulations or orders have been observed and complied with by the licensee of this State and by the person from or through whom the licensee of this State desires to purchase. Any beer manufactured outside of this State which is sold, transported or possessed in this State contrary to any such regulations or orders of the Commissioner or without the payment of the fees required by this title shall be considered contraband and shall be confiscated by the Commissioner and disposed of in the same manner as any other illegal alcoholic liquors. (b) Upon learning of the Commissioner by a manufacturer of beer whose principal place of business is outside this State or by any servant, agent, employee or representative of such manufacturer within or partly within and partly outside this State of any violation of this title or any laws of this State relating to alcoholic liquors, or of any regulation of the Commissioner adopted pursuant thereto, or of any violation of any laws of this State or of the United States of America relating to the tax payment of alcoholic liquors, the Commissioner shall cite such manufacturer to appear before it not less than 10 nor more than 15 days from the date of mailing to such manufacturer at such manufacturer’s principal place of business wherever located by registered mail a notice to show cause why the further importation into this State of beer manufactured by such manufacturer should not be prohibited. Upon such hearing, whether or not an appearance was made by such outside manufacturer, if satisfied that any such violation has occurred, the Commissioner shall immediately issue an order prohibiting the importation of beer manufactured by such manufacturer into this State for a period of not less than 6 months nor more than 3 years. Notice of such action of the Commissioner shall be given immediately to such manufacturer and to all persons licensed to import beer within this State by mailing a copy of such order to such manufacturer at its principal place of business wherever located and to such licensees at their licensed premises. Thereafter no person licensed to import beer within this State shall purchase or sell any beer manufactured by such outside manufacturer during the term of the prohibition. Any violation of the prohibitory order is a misdemeanor and also constitutes grounds for revocation or suspension of a license to import beer. In all such cases the Commissioner shall file of record at least a brief statement in the form of an opinion of the reasons for the ruling or order. Any outside manufacturer aggrieved by the action of the Commissioner may appeal to the Superior Court in the same manner as provided in § 541 of this title for appeals from refusals to grant licenses.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 725 Preparations containing alcoholic liquors but not intended for use as a beverage.

(a) No provision of this title shall, by reason only of the fact that the product contains alcoholic liquor, prevent any of the following: (1) The sale of any perfume, lotion, tincture, varnish, dressing, fluid extract or essence, vinegar, cream, ointment, salve, distillate, cooking wine, or decoction. (2) The sale of any preparation (official, medicinal, or pharmaceutical) or of any patent or proprietary medicine, intended solely for medicinal purposes, if the product does not contain alcohol in any greater quantity than the amount required as a solvent or preservative, or if the product be so compounded as to render it unsuitable for use as a beverage. (b) If the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement (DATE) is of the opinion that one of the products enumerated in this section contains alcoholic liquor and is used for beverage purposes, it may notify the manufacturer or seller to that effect and from and after the date of such notice this title shall apply to such product unless the manufacturer or seller requests a hearing before the Commissioner within 20 days of receipt of the notice. If the manufacturer or seller does not request a hearing within 20 days of the notice, or the Commissioner determines after the hearing that the product is used for beverage purposes, the manufacturer or seller so notified commits an offense under this title if the manufacturer or seller sells the product after such notice or determination, and is liable to the penalties provided in § 902 of this title. (c) (1) In order to determine whether any particular preparation, proprietary or patented, contains alcohol in excess of the amount required as a solvent or preservative, or whether it is so compounded as to render it unsuitable for use as a beverage, DATE may purchase a sample of such preparation from any person and may have it analyzed by any individual DATE selects. (2) If it appears from the analysis of the sample that the preparation contains alcohol in excess of the amount required as a solvent or preservative, or that it is not so compounded as to render it unsuitable for use as a beverage, DATE may notify the manufacturer or the agent in this State of the manufacturer of the preparation or the person who has acquired the preparation for purpose of resale, that the preparation is not an exempt product within the meaning of this section, but is an alcoholic liquor to which this title applies. After the service of such notice, this title shall apply to such preparation and the manufacturer or the agent in this State of the manufacturer or the person who has acquired same to resell, who has been so notified, commits an offense under this title unless a hearing is requested before the Commissioner within 20 days of receipt of the notice. If a hearing is not requested within 20 days of the notice, or the Commissioner determines after the hearing that the preparation is used for beverage purposes, the manufacturer or the agent in this State of the manufacturer of the preparation or the person who has acquired the preparation for purpose of resale commits an offense under this title if that person sells the preparation after the date of the service upon that person of the notice or determination. (3) The notice required by this section shall consist of a letter from the Director of DATE stating that the preparation specified in the letter is not an exempt product in the sense of this section, but is an alcoholic liquor to which this title applies. The notice must be served by hand delivery or by sending a copy by certified mail to the manufacturer, or to the agent in this State of the manufacturer, or to the person who has acquired the preparation to resell. (d) This section applies to every product which is included within the definition of the word “preparation” set forth in § 101 of this title and to every product which is defined or described in subsection (a) of this section, other than one which is prepared by a druggist at the time of the prescription of a physician and in accordance with its tenor or which is prepared by a physician for the use only of a patient actually under the physician’s care.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 726 Liability for price of illegal sale of alcoholic liquors.

No action to recover the price of any alcoholic liquor sold in contravention of this title may be maintained.

Del. Code tit. 4, § 727 Sale at last call/closing hour of an establishment.

No more than 1 alcoholic beverage may be sold to a person less than 15 minutes prior to closing each day that a license is open pursuant to this title. Any server who violates this section shall be guilty of a violation, and shall be fined $100 for a first offense, and $250 for a second or subsequent offense accruing within 1 year and shall be further required to take a course of instruction pursuant to Chapter 12 of this title (Delaware Responsible Alcoholic Beverage Server Training Program) within 90 days.
Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title4/c007/index.htmlFetched: 6/28/2026