[MizzouGypsy]

I'm doing advanced work for a company trying to expand into Las Vegas. This company has been very successful in NYC, LA, and Chicago facilitating home liquor delivery. Everything is legal according to each locale, if the customer cannot prove they are legal drinking age they are charged a re-stocking fee.

The problem I'm running into is this...there is a perception that home liquor delivery is illegal. I can't find anything on the books for Nevada, Las Vegas, or Henderson; that doesn't mean I haven't missed it somewhere.

I think this is a case of perception creating reality...consumers don't realize it could be an option and casinos don't want it in their resorts, so retailers don't offer the service. With 3.5 million visitors every month subject to sky-high casino costs (Cosmopolitan charges $350 plus tax/18% tip for 1 liter of Grey Goose vodka), a service that offers liquor delivery would be a license to print money. Even locals would get onboard...nobody thought pizza delivery made sense 35 years ago, now it's the Preferred Pizza Procurement Procedure. A hopeful benefit would be a reduction in drunk driving.

So...is this legal and would you use such a service?

[ddrhazy]

You're asking for legal advice. Hire a lawyer dude.

[airics]

Originally Posted by MizzouGypsy

I'm doing advanced work for a company trying to expand into Las Vegas. This company has been very successful in NYC, LA, and Chicago facilitating home liquor delivery. Everything is legal according to each locale, if the customer cannot prove they are legal drinking age they are charged a re-stocking fee.

The problem I'm running into is this...there is a perception that home liquor delivery is illegal. I can't find anything on the books for Nevada, Las Vegas, or Henderson; that doesn't mean I haven't missed it somewhere.

I think this is a case of perception creating reality...consumers don't realize it could be an option and casinos don't want it in their resorts, so retailers don't offer the service. With 3.5 million visitors every month subject to sky-high casino costs (Cosmopolitan charges $350 plus tax/18% tip for 1 liter of Grey Goose vodka), a service that offers liquor delivery would be a license to print money. Even locals would get onboard...nobody thought pizza delivery made sense 35 years ago, now it's the Preferred Pizza Procurement Procedure. A hopeful benefit would be a reduction in drunk driving.

So...is this legal and would you use such a service?

seriously,the $350 is at a casino... theres a Lee's Liquor around every corner..

[UTES]

Von's delivers alcohol (and groceries) at regular grocery store prices. I doubt a stand alone delivery service could even get close to Von's price point.

Bill

[MizzouGypsy]

Originally Posted by UTES

Von's delivers alcohol (and groceries) at regular grocery store prices. I doubt a stand alone delivery service could even get close to Von's price point.

Bill

Perhaps a an extra few dollars for convenience sake, but in other cities the prices are not outrageous. Von's is a great service, to be sure.

[MizzouGypsy]

Originally Posted by airics

seriously,the $350 is at a casino... theres a Lee's Liquor around every corner..

Lee's isn't a viable option for tourists without a cab. They are limited to Walgreen's or the like within walking distance...a mild to major annoyance depending on the person.

I suppose it depends on the person...I order staples like toilet paper and whatnot through Amazon, so the convenience factor is worth a few extra bucks for me where it might not be for others.

[UTES]

Originally Posted by MizzouGypsy

...the convenience factor is worth a few extra bucks for me where it might not be for others.

And that's where you may be able to carve out a market niche.

1) You could try to target your demographic more effectively than the competition. Tourists most likely don't know about Von's (and other stores that deliver). This gives you the opportunity to get to them first.

2) Von's (et al) deliver the next day at the earliest. I'm assuming your target demographic wants alcohol faster. What if you could deliver within... say... an hour or two?

3) You need a plan to get around policies at hotels disallowing such deliveries. They have a vested interest in getting guests to buy their over-priced alcohol.

Bill

[MSchu]

I buy stuff on the internet from distributors from back east... I fail to see what the difference is.

[MizzouGypsy]

Originally Posted by UTES

And that's where you may be able to carve out a market niche.

1) You could try to target your demographic more effectively than the competition. Tourists most likely don't know about Von's (and other stores that deliver). This gives you the opportunity to get to them first.

2) Von's (et al) deliver the next day at the earliest. I'm assuming your target demographic wants alcohol faster. What if you could deliver within... say... an hour or two?

3) You need a plan to get around policies at hotels disallowing such deliveries. They have a vested interest in getting guests to buy their over-priced alcohol.

Bill

1 - yes, I agree. Retailers win because the marketing is done for them. I'd wager most locals don't realize Von's delivers, either. I think biggest competition is Walgreens and Liquor Library at the airport.
2 - 60 minute delivery is the standard in other cities with this service
3 - casinos would be tricky...though I see hundreds of tourists every weekend carrying cases from Walgreens...while it annoys casinos, they really care more about gaming and putting heads in beds.

Thank you for your thoughts.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by MizzouGypsy

3 - casinos would be tricky...though I see hundreds of tourists every weekend carrying cases from Walgreens...while it annoys casinos, they really care more about gaming and putting heads in beds.

Alex Trebek: The answer is: Clark County government. Code enforcement. The Department of Business and Industry.

Me: "Who says, 'How High' when the casinos say, 'Jump!'"