Nov 25 2025
Ever wonder what the most time-consuming problem in the alcohol industry is right now?
It's not shelf space or sales. It's not customer loyalty or packaging design.
It's payment processing.
Between manual processes, compliance risks, outdated tech, and tough regulations, the payment side of alcohol sales can make even the most seasoned vendor want to take a long vacation.
But there's good news for alcohol retailers…
Payment technology is rapidly advancing. New tools and systems are making it easier, faster, and more secure to process alcohol payments — while also making sure you follow all the rules.
In this guide, we'll cover exactly what makes alcohol payment processing unique, why outdated tech is actually costing you money, and the modern payment technologies that are making it easier than ever to accept and process alcohol sales.
Let's start off with a little honesty…
Alcohol payment processing is NOT like regular retail. In fact, most payment processors will simply refuse to do business with alcohol vendors. Companies like 2Accept are among a select few that offer customized merchant services tailored for alcohol retailers.
Here's why:
Standard payment processors deem alcohol sales to be "high-risk." They're concerned about chargebacks, age verification, and all the red tape involved with buying alcohol.
They're not totally wrong. The global online alcohol delivery market was $2.6 trillion in 2025 and is expected to reach $3.9 trillion by 2032. With growth like that, the temptation for compliance violations is only increasing.
Every state has different laws, different tax rates, and different licensing rules. Keeping track of all of them is a full-time job on its own.
If you're still processing payments the old-fashioned way, it's time to start paying attention.
Doing things manually may be comfortable, but it's costing you money. Time. Customers. Here's a breakdown of the hidden costs associated with outdated payment systems.
How much time does it take your team to manually enter invoice data? To process each payment individually? To reconcile accounts at the end of the day?
Industry studies estimate that automation can shave off as much as 10 minutes per invoice.
Multiply that by the number of invoices you process each week and the costs start to add up.
This one keeps alcohol retailers awake at night…
One little slip-up can cost you your business license. Or better yet, a regulatory fine that would shutter your doors for good.
Old-school payment systems do nothing to help you stay compliant. At best, they passively process payments. It's up to you to wade through the swamp of alcohol compliance regulations.
Premium alcohol is an easy target for fraudsters. Has been for decades. Always will be.
And when fraud strikes? You eat the costs. Recent surveys indicate that 79% of organizations were targeted by payment fraud attacks in 2024. Data breaches can cost a business an average of $4.4 million.
Does your business have that kind of cushion?
Ok, enough with the doom and gloom. Let's talk solutions.
The right payment technology can revolutionize your alcohol business. Here's a quick overview of the top technologies that are working right now.
Mandatory in many states. Already the law in California for local retailers.
EFT payments are here to stay. And that's a good thing.
Electronic fund transfers are the future. Faster, safer, more secure than checks or paper. No more waiting for payments to clear. No more lost or forgotten payments. Just 100% of your money, instantly, and on the up-and-up.
We'll start with the one that's probably biggest game-changer for retailers.
Picture this: Your invoices get processed automatically. Scanned. Data extracted. Populated in your accounting software without a keystroke.
Sound too good to be true? It's not. It's exactly what leading platforms are doing now.
The most innovative tools are able to process over 950,000 invoices weekly, representing $50 billion in annual alcohol spend. Nearly 40% of all retail and hospitality businesses with alcohol licenses use automated systems.
Coincidence? I think not.
Hold on, it gets even better…
The best modern payment solutions come with built-in compliance features. Automatic tax calculation based on location. Age verification tracking. Record-keeping for audits.
Keeping compliant without the headache is a major timesaver.
Machine learning has made massive inroads into fraud detection.
Advanced payment systems today use algorithms to detect fraud before it happens. Analyzing patterns in transactions. Monitoring customer activity. Flagging suspicious behavior instantly.
Automatic fraud protection for your business and your customers.
So, how do you know which system is right for your business?
Alcohol payment technology is a huge space with lots of different players. Here's what to look for when shopping around for an alcohol payment processing solution.
Your payment solution needs to understand the alcohol regulations in every state where you do business.
Make sure it can automatically manage:
If it can't do it automatically, move on.
The right solution will play nice with all your other software tools.
Make sure it integrates with your POS system. Your accounting software. Your inventory management system. Don't try to bolt things together manually.
Planning to grow? New locations? Online sales?
Pick a payment system that can grow with you. The last thing you need is to have to switch systems whenever your business changes.
Don't get sticker-shocked by hidden fees. Some payment processors try to make their money on setup costs, monthly minimums, and transaction fees.
Get it all in writing. Know exactly what you're paying before you sign up.
Thinking about switching to modern payment processing?
The transition can sound intimidating, but it's not as hard as you think. Most modern payment providers will do most of the heavy lifting to onboard your business.
Here's what to expect:
Begin by auditing your current payment process. Find the pain points. Document what's working and what's not. Get a clear view of what you need.
Research providers that specialize in alcohol retail. No more generic payment processors. Your needs are too specific for that.
Test out before you commit. Most legitimate providers have demos or trial periods. Use them. Make sure the system actually lives up to the promises.
Payment processing is no longer the reason for your business trips to Vegas.
With the right tools, it becomes completely invisible. Transactions happen. Compliance occurs automatically. Fraud is blocked before it costs you money.
The alcohol e-commerce market is exploding right now, with retail value growing from $85 million in 2018 to $977 million in 2023. Growth like that doesn't slow down anytime soon. Retailers that adapt to new payment technologies will reap the benefits. The ones that don't?
Pity.
The next step is yours…
Audit your current payment processing. If it's wasting time, money, or risking compliance headaches, it's time for a change. Find a solution built for alcohol retail. Make the switch. Then get back to what you do best — running your business.
The technology is ready. The question is… Are you?
Tell us what you need and we'll get back to you right away.