Amazon launches 1-hour alcohol delivery service in the U.S. - Action News
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Amazon launches 1-hour alcohol delivery service in the U.S.

In the amount of time it takes to watch an episode of Mad Men, Seattle residents can now get everything they need to stir up an Old Fashioned of their own without ever leaving the house.

From toilet paper to tequila, Seattle residents can now have almost anything delivered in an hour

Prime Now customers are sharing photos of the alcohol products they've ordered after recieving them at home in less than an hour. (Twitter/@allistewart)

In about the same amount of time it takesto watch an episode of Mad Men, you can nowget everything you need to stir up anOld Fashioned of your own without ever leaving the house.

But only if you live in Seattle and are a member ofAmazon Prime.

Sorry.

The online shopping juggernaut announced this week that it is officially rolling out itsPrime Now service, which offers one-hourdelivery on"groceries, gifts, goodies and more from your favorite local stores," in its own hometown.

While already available in select areas of cities including New York, Portland, Miami,Atlanta andChicago, Amazon Primecustomers in Seattle will be the first in the U.S. to have the option of ordering alcohol through the service's mobile app.

Two-hour delivery on beer, spirits, wine and other items purchased through the service is free for those with a $99-a-year Prime membership, while one-hour delivery costs $7.99 US though some subscribers have reported much quicker delivery times for the latter option.

Amazon didn'treveal any plans todeliver fast boozebeyond Seattle and its surrounding areas in its media release on Tuesday, but eventhe idea that it could do so eventually hasset of a flurry of online activity.

Some are concerned about the impact that a one-hour alcohol delivery service could have on humanity and on their own motivationsfor ever leaving the house again, not to mention issuesrelated to underage drinking, local business and addiction.

Othersare just thrilled by the prospect of keepingfuture keg partiesgoingwithout anyone having to make abeer run (though it should be noted that Prime Now only deliversbetween 8 a.m.and midnight.)

Like Canadians, most U.S. residents can't yet order alcohol through the service.

But those who live in cities wherePrime Now is available can still get one-deliveries on "tens of thousands of items," including milk, ice cream,toilet paper, televisions and, apparently, whole cooked ducks.

When asked directly about whether Amazon will be bringing its "one-hour booze barge" beyond Seattle, a company spokesperson told Buzzfeed News: "Like with any product offering, we will evaluate customer response and if customers love the convenience of having alcohol delivered in under an hour right to their doors then we'll look to expand the offering."