Instacart expands options for Boston customers

Boston has long been known as a town that likes to imbibe now and then, and online grocery delivery service Instacart is helping to spread the cheer.



Instacart is partnering with local omnichannel liquor retailer Vinodivino to offer Boston customers same-day delivery of wine, liquor, and beer. Vinodivino is now part of the Instacart marketplace, meaning Boston residents can order alcohol online from Vinodivino through the Instacart site or app and get alcohol delivered in as little as one hour.



In addition, Boston customers ordering ingredient kits from local recipe and ingredient provider Pantry will now be able to pair a wine or beer to their delivery. Instacart has been partnering with Pantry to deliver pre-portioned recipe kits in the Boston area since December 2015.



“We’re thrilled to bring alcohol delivery to Boston so that we can integrate another category on our platform,” said Andrew Nodes at Instacart. “With Vinodivino and Pantry on the Instacart marketplace, our Boston customers will have access to groceries and beverages they enjoy.”



Customers who order alcohol from Vinodivino and Pantry through Instacart will be required to provide their date of birth at checkout to confirm they are 21 or older. In order for alcohol to be delivered, a recipient 21 or older must also be present to sign for the delivery and show proof of legal age with a valid photo ID.



Instacart’s initial delivery areas for Vinodivino and Pantry include Boston as well as the surrounding communities of Newton, Brookline, and Cambridge.



Alcohol is becoming an increasingly popular item for online delivery. Major delivery providers such as Amazon.com, Google Express, and Delivery.com, as well as smaller niche players like omnichannel beer/wine/liquor delivery service Drizly. While there are a number of additional regulatory complexities that go along with delivering alcohol, it is definitely a key part of the burgeoning food and beverage delivery market.