Perhaps you’ve finally resolved to heed your doctor’s warnings and quit drinking alcohol. Or maybe you’re just sick of your current liquor cabinet selections and want to clear them out to make room for new ones. It could be that you had a party and now have too much alcohol left over.
Whatever the reason, you just have several bottles of booze you no longer want and feel it’s time to get rid of them. You are planning to donate them but one thing has kept you from actually doing it: where can you donate alcohol?
Well, this coverage will help answer that question for you. Read on to learn about a few ways to get rid of your extra alcohol and do some good in the process.
Where To Donate Unwanted Alcohol?
You can donate unwanted alcohol to a friend or liquor stores. As long as it’s in good condition, the latter will use your donated alcohol as a sample for customers or for their own inventory.
Generally, donating alcohol to a friend is probably the most common way to get rid of extra liquor bottles. But before you give your alcohol away, ensure that the recipient is of legal drinking age and will actually drink it.
It’s also a good idea to check with your friend beforehand to see what types of alcohol they like. That way, you will be sure they’ll put the alcohol into use and won’t have to also find a way to get rid of it.
If you don’t have anyone around you who can take your alcohol, you could also look for a local liquor store that may want it. You’ll want to begin with the store that sold you the alcohol to start with.
Most liquor stores have a “return policy” that allows you to return unopened bottles of alcohol within a certain time period (usually 30 days). However, this policy may differ from state to state so it’s best to check with your local liquor store first.
Another option is to donate alcohol to a local bar. If the bar accepts your donation, they’ll likely use it for one of two purposes: to make cocktails or shots for their customers or to give it away as prizes for bar games and events.
What Is The Best Way To Dispose Of Alcohol?
The best way to dispose of alcohol is to donate it if it’s still in good condition. There are a lot of people and charities out there that could really use your donation, and it’s a great way to get rid of alcohol you no longer want.
However, if you are trying to quit alcohol yourself, donating it may not settle well with your conscience. In this case, the best way to dispose of alcohol is to throw it away – in the proper way, of course!
You can pour it down your toilet with plenty of water to dilute it, and then throw the bottle away in the trash. You can also recycle the container if your local recycling center accepts it.
If you have several bottles of alcohol, it’s best not to pour them all down the toilet at once. All bottles at once could cause a problem with the sewer. Instead, dispense one or two bottles down each week until they’re all gone.
And as usual, remember to flush the toilet with plenty of water after you pour the liquor. Sometimes you’ll even need to dilute the alcohol before it touches the bowl of your toilet, especially if it has a high alcohol content.
Still, you can find alternative uses of alcohol around the house. Yes, a bottle of vodka – or several other types of alcohol- goes beyond making you feel good on a night out with friends.
It’s an effective household cleaning agent, a natural disinfectant, and an anesthetic. Alcohol can even serve as a perfect anti-mold solution in the bathroom, for example. You can also use it for shining fixtures and anti-bacterial cleaning.
So, if you have alcohol you’re unsure what to do with, get creative and see what other uses it might have. Sometimes it may save you a trip to the store or even be the solution to a problem you’ve for long been unable to solve.
Can You Just Throw Away Alcohol?
No, don’t just throw away alcohol. It’s always good to use a disposal method that guarantees the alcohol will be diluted properly and won’t end up in the wrong hands. Otherwise, you may be liable if someone drinks it and gets injured or sick.
Sometimes it’s normal to want to get rid of alcohol as quickly as possible, especially if it’s hard liquor. But it’s essential to be patient and take the time to dispose of it properly.
Wrong disposal methods include leaving it out in the open or giving it away to people who are not of the legal drinking age. The latter might land you in hot water, so it’s best to avoid it.
Sure, you might argue that it wasn’t your intention for the person to drink it, but that doesn’t really matter. Throwing alcohol within the access of a minor sounds much like “what way can I deliver alcohol to minors when pretending it not being the case?”
Is It Illegal To Throw Away Alcohol?
While it’s not illegal to throw away alcohol in most places, it’s always best to check your local laws and regulations first. There may be specific requirements in your area for disposing of alcohol, so it’s always best to be sure.
Not everything is worth going into the trash. Items like batteries, light bulbs, paint, and mercury-containing items are illegal to dispose of in the trash. They can cause serious problems if they end up in landfills.
The same goes for alcohol. While it may not be illegal to throw away alcohol, it’s not the best way to dispose of it. If you must throw it away, be sure to do so properly.
But again, we must also acknowledge that different places may have different laws. So, it’s always best to check with your local authorities before disposing of alcohol in any way.
Again, keep in mind that the laws may change from time to time, so it’s always best to stay up-to-date. That way, you can be sure you’re not breaking any laws and you’re disposing of the alcohol in the best way possible.
But even without any laws prohibiting the disposal of alcohol in the trash, it’s still not a good idea. Alcohol can leach out of garbage bags and contaminate the environment.
Again, it may also land in the wrong hands. If someone finds alcohol in the trash, they may be tempted to drink it, even if it’s been sitting in the garbage for weeks. So, as a responsible adult, it’s always best to find a better way to dispose of alcohol.
Can You Donate Alcohol To The Food Bank?
No, you can’t donate alcohol to the food bank for obvious reasons. Food banks only accept healthy, dry, and canned food donations. Unfortunately, alcohol doesn’t fall into any of those categories.
If you are one of the people who love to donate to the food bank, giving your unwanted bottles of booze to them might sound like a great idea. But it’s important to remember that they can’t accept alcohol donations.
Actually, food banks will throw out any boozy desserts, such as rum cakes, that are donated. The same goes for bottles of wine or liquor. So, it’s best to find another place to give them out.
But if you have lots of clutter and want to get rid of non-food stuff, some food banks also accept other types of donations. These usually include clothes, toys, laundry detergent, diapers, feminine products, and books.
So, if you’re looking to declutter your home and get rid of some unwanted alcohol, giving it to a local food bank may not do. However, you can always check with your local food bank to see what they can accept from what you have available.
Can You Pour Alcohol Down The Sink?
Yes, you can pour alcohol down the sink and it should work just fine. However, ensure that the alcohol is in dilute form and don’t pour it down in large quantities at once.
If you don’t want to donate your alcohol or re-purpose it, then pouring it down the sink is probably your best bet. It’s safe and easy, and you don’t have to worry about it ending up in the wrong hands.
Just remember to pour it down the drain in small amounts and dilute it with water first. That way, you won’t damage your pipes and you can be sure the alcohol will be disposed of properly.
The general rule of the thumb is that you shouldn’t flush more than two bottles of alcohol at once. Otherwise, alcohol can stir up a concoction of reactions that may cause problems for your sink.
Does Alcohol Go To Waste?
It might seem like alcohol would go to waste if you pour it down the sink. But actually, most of the alcohol will break down by the time it reaches the sewage treatment plant.
One of the common concerns about disposing of alcohol down the sink is that it might end up in our drinking water. But that’s actually not the case.
The alcohol you dispose of through the sink or toilet will be converted into carbon dioxide and water. So, don’t worry about pouring your alcohol down the sink. It won’t go to waste and it will be disposed of properly.
Final Verdict
Getting rid of liquor may not be as tricky as you thought. You can always find a way to re-purpose it or donate it to someone who will make good use of it. Liquor stores can also make a great home for your unwanted alcohol. They might even give you a store credit for it!
However, if you’re donation isn’t an option, or the alcohol is spoiled, pour it down the sink. Just remember to do it in small amounts and dilute it with plenty of water. That way, you won’t damage your pipes and can be sure the alcohol will be disposed of properly.