DrinkFly app delivers alcohol to your door

It's cold. You're hunkered down at home in a nest of cozy blankets. Wouldn't a warm adult beverage be nice? Or maybe a glass of wine?

But wait — you're out of booze.

DrinkFly wants to solve that problem for you. The free smartphone app launching this week in the Twin Cities lets you order alcohol for delivery. Tap, tap, tap for beer, wine or liquor.

"It's magical," said Alex Cullen, who founded the Chicago-based app in April with his brother, Will.

The Twin Cities is their first Midwestern expansion beyond the Windy City. (It's also in New York.) Why here? For starters, some liquor stores here are already delivering liquor to customers. DrinkFly partners with those stores, offering their technology to streamline the ordering process.

People using the app, who have to check a box saying they are 21 or older, enter an address to see which nearby store delivers. Then they can sift through the wines, beers and spirits by category to place an order for delivery. Cullen said the prices will be identical to what's offered in the stores.

When the delivery person arrives at your door, he or she will check the buyer's identification and collect payment via cash or credit card.

So far, DrinkFly (drinkfly.com) has signed up three local liquor stores: South Lyndale Liquors in Minneapolis, Adair Liquors in Crystal, and Liquor Vault in St. Paul. If you don't live within the delivery radius specified by those stores, you're out of luck. Ditto if you're trying to get your hands on a drink when the stores aren't open or offering delivery. Liquor laws still apply.

Based on experience in Chicago, Cullen said Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays are the biggest days for placing orders. He declined to say how many people use the app, but said most customers are young professionals or businesses that host happy hours for employees.

And Cullen makes sure to point out that DrinkFly could have a safety benefit if it prevents a mid-party beer run by someone under the influence. "Our service does help prevent drunk driving," he said. "That person never has to get in that vehicle and drive."

Cheers to that.

Katie Humphrey • 612-673-4758