Returns Policy

Returns policies for alcoholic drinks can vary depending on whether the item was bought online or in-store, whether it is perishable, and whether the issue is simply a change of mind or a fault such as damage, leakage, or an incorrect item being supplied. The summary below gives a practical overview of the main position for Amazon, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons in the UK.

Amazon
Amazon says most products can normally be returned within 30 days if they are unused and undamaged. For grocery items bought through Amazon Fresh, the more relevant route is usually to request a refund if the item arrives damaged, leaking or otherwise unusable. In practice, alcoholic drinks ordered as groceries are usually treated like other consumables, so a return is most likely to be accepted where the bottle is faulty, damaged, wrong, or not fit for use, rather than simply because you changed your mind after opening or accepting it.

Tesco
Tesco is relatively flexible for grocery orders. If you are not happy with an item at the time of delivery or Click+Collect, you can usually hand it back to the driver or colleague for a refund. After that, Tesco says online purchases can be taken to a Tesco Extra or Tesco Superstore with the delivery note or confirmation email for a refund or replacement. Tesco also notes that chilled or frozen items are not accepted for change-of-mind returns after delivery, but other perishable foods may be returned if still in date, so alcoholic drinks are generally more returnable than short-life chilled groceries provided they are unopened and in acceptable condition.

Asda
Asda's general returns policy says items should preferably be returned with proof of purchase and within 30 days for an exchange or refund. For grocery issues, Asda directs customers to request a refund through their account for recent online orders, and for in-store purchases it asks customers to bring the item back, ideally in its original packaging and with proof of payment. For alcoholic drinks, this means refunds are most straightforward where the product is faulty, damaged, poor quality, incorrect, or there is another genuine issue with the order. A simple change-of-mind return may depend on the item still being unopened and resalable.

Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's says it will exchange or refund an item returned to store within 30 days as long as it is in its original condition and you have proof of purchase. For online grocery orders, if you change your mind while the delivery driver is still there, you can hand the item back immediately. If you decide later, Sainsbury's says you can return it to any store with proof of purchase within 30 days, but grocery returns cannot be sent by post. For alcoholic drinks, that generally means unopened bottles in original condition are the safest candidates for a return, while damaged or faulty items should also be refunded.

Morrisons
Morrisons draws a clearer distinction between non-perishable and perishable products. Its terms say most products have a 14-day change-of-mind cancellation right, but this does not apply to perishable products. Its FAQ says non-perishable products can be cancelled and refunded, while perishable products cannot usually be cancelled after the cut-off time unless they are damaged or faulty. For damaged, missing or defective grocery items, Morrisons allows refund requests through the website shortly after delivery and says perishable-product issues should be raised before the use-by or best-before date where relevant. In practical terms, many alcoholic drinks are likely to be treated as non-perishable, so unopened bottles may be easier to return than fresh food, but defective, broken or incorrect items are the clearest cases for a refund.

Practical takeaway
For alcoholic drinks, the safest assumption across all five retailers is that returns are easiest where the bottle is damaged, leaking, incorrect, defective, or otherwise not as ordered. Unopened bottles in original condition are more likely to be accepted than opened ones. If the purchase was online, it is usually best to report the issue quickly through the retailer account, refund form, or customer service route, and to keep the bottle, packaging and proof of purchase until the retailer confirms what it wants you to do.

Please note
Retailers can update their policies, and some exceptions may apply to marketplace sellers, age-restricted products, promotional orders, or local store decisions. It is sensible to check the retailer's current help pages before publishing a definitive policy page.