How to Store Alcohol Safely, Efficiently & for Increased Shelf Life

Storing large volumes of alcohol properly is a cruicial- and sometimes neglected- part of the drinks distribution process.

Proper alcohol storage is beneficial for a number of reasons, from reducing spoilage to increasing drinks operations efficiency.

Whether you're a brewery, winery, distillery or a no-and-low drinks producer, the impact of correct alcohol storage should never be underestimated.

Let's explore the best ways to store drinks to increase shelf life, stock efficiency and warehouse safety.

The Best Way to Store Alcoholic Drinks in Storage

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1. Organise Drinks Stock for Easier Picking & Inventory Management

The layout of your stock in storage optimises your drinks distribution. Improper organisation can slow down your team and increase the chance of picking errors.

Tips for optimising drinks storage accessibility:

1. Group by category and size: store your products by drink type (for example, wine, beer or spirits), by size (330ml cans, 750ml bottles) and container type (keg, cask, cans and bottles) to help warehouse staff pick the right item quickly.

1. Label clearly: use large, scannable SKU/barcode labels that are visible from eye level for ease of picking and scanning into your chosen WMS (Warehouse Management System)

1. Use the First-In, First-Out method: ensure older stock is picked before newer stock to reduce drinks spoilage and wastage

TOP TIP: Consider adjustable racking to organise your drinks storage.

Partnering with a third-party logistics (3PL) partner who specialises in drinks means that you gain access to drinks-optimised, ambient and cold storage. Tap'in 3PL offer drinks logistics and a warehouse just outside of London, offering next-day drinks delivery into London, South East and Home Counties.

Check out our logistics costs PDL tool calculator to see how much you could save on Tap'in 3PL's warehousing and on-trade drinks logistics, or contact our team for a bespoke quote.

2. Store to Extend the Shelf Life of Drinks

Some drinks- such as wine, craft beer and low-ABV options- can be vulnerable to improper storage climates.

To get the most out of your drink's shelf life:

Used controlled temperature drinks storage:

• Wine: 12–16°C (avoid temperature fluctuations)
• Beer: ideally 10–13°C
• Spirits: 15–20°C (spirits are less sensitive, but still aim to avoid heat)

Limit light exposure:

UV can quickly degrade flavor in wine and beer. Choose a warehouse with tinted glass, ensure bottle boxes remain closed or invest in UV-filtered lighting.

Avoid extreme humidity changes

Excessive moisture can damage drinks labels and packaging, while too little can dry out wine corks.

Keep drinks upright when needed

Bottles with corks are recommended to be stored horizontally, while cans and screw caps should be kept upright to avoid contamination and leaks.

3. Store Drinks Safely

Warehouse safety is no joke. Alcohol is flammable, heavy and hazardous if handled incorrectly.

Store alcohol safely using these tips:

1. Secure shelfing: invest in heavy-duty racking that can be anchored into the floor and wall to prevent tipping. Do not overload shelves as this can cause risk of shelving buckling under the weight
2. Be fire-safe: alcohol is flammable and should be stored away from heat sources
3. Restrict access to drinks stock: high-value stock should be stored in a secure and locked storage or warehouse facility to protect it from theft
4. Keep staff trained on manual handling: ensure any staff that handle stock or heavy goods are trained on manual handling to ensure they know how to handle stock safely and efficiently

TOP TIP: keep an updated SDS (Safety Data Sheet) for all drinks products and ensure compliance with hazardous materials.

Frequently Asked Questions about Alcohol Storage

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Q1: What is the best way for drinks producers to store alcohol?

The best storage methods depends on the type of alcohol you're intending to store. However, in general:

1. Keep products in ambient or temperate-controlled/cold storage
2. Opt for low-light storage to reduce light damage to drinks
3. Use First-in, First-out (FIFO) stock practices
4. Store drinks on racking or shelving to protect the packaging and maintain safety
5. Separate product by SKU and container type (e.g kegs, casks, cans or bottles) for ease of drinks order fulfilment

For drinks producers looking for drinks-optimised storage and on-trade, next-day delivery into London, Brighton and Home Counties, check out Tap'in 3PL.

Q2: What are the best storage conditions for alcohol in a warehouse?

1. Temperature should generally range between 1-12 degrees celsius (or typically higher for red wines and some spirits). Choosing a warehouse with ambient and cold storage options is beneficial
2. Reduce Light: avoiding direct or flourescent lighting helps reduce UV damage which can damage the taste and appearance of drinks
3. Air circulation and ventilation helps prevent mould

Tap'in 3PL offers both ambient and cold drinks storage- perfect for drinks producers looking to store and deliver their whole range. We operate next-day on-trade drinks deliveries into London and the South East for drinks producers delivering our MOQ of 3,500 litres per month.

Check out our outsourced vs. in-house drinks logistics cost calculator to see if you could save with Tap'in. Our PDL rate includes storage, handling and distribution, all rolled into one price for convenience and transparency.

Q3: How do you store alcohol for a long time?

To store alcohol long-term, consider the following to keep your drinks in great condition:

1. Keep temperature stable: constant change in temperature can degrade flavour
2. Avoid stacking products on the floor: instead, use pallets or shelving to keep drinks organised and stable
3. Use a Warehouse Management System (WMS): this helps you to organise stock and keep track of quantities
4. Invest in security measures: this could include security cameras to ensure long-term safety management of large quantities of stock

Q4: How can I make my alcohol last longer in storage?

To increase your drink's shelf life in storage, apply the following:

1. Invest in temperature and humidity controlled storage: ambient or chilled drinks storage are kept at a maintained temperature
2. Consider changing your packaging to be more lightproof and durable to avoid drinks spoilage or breakage during storage and distribution
3. Keep drinks sealed securely to reduce spillages
4. Inspect packaging on a regular basis to check for leaks or damage (this is particularly important for drinks that are being stored for a longer period of time)
5. Use smart insights to understand stock levels: avoid over-producing slow-moving SKUs

Q5: Should producers store alcohol in refrigerated conditions?

Some drinks benefit from chilled, refridgerated storage conditions.

Check below to see if your drinks could benefit from cold storage:

1. No-and-low drinks and fresh-hop beers generally benefit from cold storage
2. Wines benefit from cool and stable temperatures
3. Beers benefit from ambient, unchanging temperatures
4. Spirits do not usually require refridgeration as cold temperatures can dull the flavour

Tap'in 3PL offers London and South East drinks logistics and chilled drinks storage for producers delivering a minimum of 3,500 litres per month. Our PDL (price per delivered litre) rate covers storage, handling and on-trade delivery of drinks into venues. Talk to our team today.

Q6: What alcohol is best suited for long-term storage in a warehouse?

Some drinks benefit from long-term storage in a warehouse, including:

1. Spirits (such as rum and whiskey): the higher ABV makes these drinks perfect for long-term storage.
2. Fortified wines (e.g sherry and port) maintain quality well over time, making them suitable for longer-term storage
3. Beer and wine are able to be stored for months if they are kept in the correct conditions (cooler, darker conditions are recommended for quality control). However, beers and wines generally have a shorter shelf life than other drinks on this list.

Many drinks that fall under the no-and-low catagory typically need to be stored and rotated quickly and often are not recommended for long-term drinks storage and warehousing.

Final Thoughts: Better Drinks Storage = Better Business

Storing alcohol properly isn't just about being compliant- it's about ensuring that the product reached your customer in perfect condition.

By organising stock, storing to help preserve quality and always being vigilant on safety, you can quickly boost your drinks operational efficiency and reduce waste.

Store Alcohol in London with Tap'in 3PL

Looking for a drinks third-party logistics (3PL) partner in London that can store your whole range of alcoholic drinks?

Tap'in 3PL is located just 5 miles from Woolwich and can safely store your kegs, casks, cans and bottles in our drinks logistics warehouse.

We work best for drinks producers who are:

1. Delivering 3,500+ litres of drink per month
2. Wanting to deliver next-day into London, Brighton and the Home Counties
3. Looking for London deliveries 4 days a week to help keep up with demand

If this sounds like you- contact our team via the form below, or call us directly:

Call: 0203 436 0140

Read more about drinks logistics:

How Much Does it Cost to rent a Warehouse in the UK for Drinks Storage?

How Can a Drinks 3PL Help You Deliver Across the UK?

Third-Party Logistics (3PL) vs. Wholesaler: Which is Right For Your Drinks Business?

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