Back in 2021, Uber purchased Drizly for $1.1 billion shortly after it reported that its food delivery segment kept its losses manageable during the pandemic. Three years later, the company is shutting down the US-based alcohol delivery service, Axios has reported. Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, Uber’s SVP of delivery, told the publication that the company has decided to close the business and to focus on its “core Uber Eats strategy.”
This seems like a legal minefield to even attempt. Liquor is often treated differently than beer and wine legally, and the laws are absurdly convoluted and different for each state. I wouldn’t be surprised if the plan was just hoping that state agencies didn’t ask questions.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this is partially a response to some states asking if drivers were properly licensed to deliver alcohol.