‘Uber of alcohol’ app gives customers drinks on demand

Global Business

A smartphone app now enables people in some parts of the U.S. to order their favorite adult beverages with a few clicks, without leaving the comfort of their homes. CCTV America’s Hendrik Sybrandy reported this story from Denver.

\'Uber of alcohol\' app gives customers drinks on demand

A smartphone app now enables people in some parts of the U.S. to order their favorite adult beverages with a few clicks, without leaving the comfort of their homes. CCTV America's Hendrik Sybrandy reported this story from Denver.

If you’ve ever found yourself at home and without any booze, Drizly promises to come to your rescue.

The delivery service brings alcohol straight to the customer through orders placed and processed on a smartphone application.

“Drizly is really just helping to create a new way, a more efficient way for stores to get product to the end consumer,” Matthew Erley, general manager of Drizly Colorado said.

Two men from Boston — found themselves out of alcohol one evening — came up with the idea.

“You know, On one of those nights, where it’s cold, and your fridge is a little bit empty,” Erley said.

They mastered numerous alcohol regulations, and now Drizly is in 10 U.S. states. Together with local bars, it does thousands of deliveries each month. Customers typically receive their beverages in under 40 minutes.

“You’re throwing a party, you run out of beer, whatever, they got a $20 minimum order, $5 for the delivery,” Darin Duber-Smith, senior lecturer at the Metropolitan State University of Denver said. “There doesn’t seem to be many price barriers to using this service.”

Drizly’s success so far illustrates the growing power of apps, which are driving a growing delivery economy. One marketing expert said apps take consumers where companies want them to go.

“Those icons are your phone, those are applications, that’s not the Internet. That’s more like a walled garden,” Duber-Smith said. “The Internet’s more like a connected community and the company wants you to be in a walled garden.”

On one frigid Colorado nights, that was just fine with customer Breton Shepherd. The deliveryman even made sure Shepherd was old enough to drink. Within moments, the transaction was complete.

Drizly and its competitors tout their convenience, their liquor selection, and their ability to bring new customers to stores like this.


Gable Erenzo of Tuthilltown Spirits talks whiskey, vodka, and gin – oh my

CCTV America interviewed Gable Erenzo who’s family owns Tuthilltown Spirits, a New York-based distiller that produces whiskeys, vodka and gin about global alcohol trends.

Gable Erenzo of Tuthilltown Spirits talks whiskey, vodka, and gin - oh my

CCTV America interviewed Gable Erenzo who's family owns Tuthilltown Spirits, a New York-based distiller that produces whiskeys, vodka and gin about global alcohol trends.