No. Meta's Commerce Policies ban alcoholic drinks of any kind on Facebook Marketplace, and they ban kits for making alcohol too. You can still sell alcohol-related items such as glasses, coolers and wine bottle holders, and books or DVDs about alcohol.
It doesn't matter whether it's an unopened bottle of whisky from a birthday, a crate of craft beer or a case of wine you won't drink. The policy says alcoholic drinks of any kind, so there's no exception for small amounts, sealed bottles or collectable labels. Giving it away doesn't help either: Meta's Commerce Policies apply to products offered even for free.
What the alcohol policy allows and bans
| Item | Allowed on Marketplace? |
|---|---|
| Alcoholic drinks of any kind: wine, beer, spirits | No |
| Kits for making alcohol | No |
| Glasses, coolers and wine bottle holders | Yes |
| Books or DVDs about alcohol | Yes |
| Items with an alcohol brand or logo, sold by a business | Allowed, but may be subject to country and age restrictions |
The home-brew point is the one people miss. Selling the finished drink is banned, and so are home-brew and wine-making kits. The bar gear that goes with a drink is fine, so a cocktail set, a wine rack or a beer cooler can be listed.
Branded merchandise and business sellers
There's a separate rule if you sell as a business on Facebook, Messenger, Instagram or WhatsApp. Commerce content that doesn't sell alcohol but carries alcohol brands or logos, such as branded glasses, coolers and wine bottle holders, is restricted rather than banned. That means it may be subject to country and age restrictions, so not everyone will see it.
Meta also says Marketplace is intended for consumer-to-consumer sales. Businesses and people acting in a business capacity in the European Economic Area, the Philippines and India may have their listings removed or their Marketplace access suspended if they try to sell there.
The same rules apply beyond Marketplace
The Commerce Policies don't only cover Marketplace. Meta says they apply to any attempt to buy, sell or trade products, even for free, on services designed for commerce across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. That includes Shops on Facebook and Instagram and the WhatsApp Business catalogue. So listing a bottle in a shop catalogue instead of on Marketplace doesn't get round the alcohol ban.
Tobacco, vapes and cannabis
If you're clearing out a drinks cabinet, other items in it may be banned too. Meta's tobacco policy bans:
- Cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco.
- Tobacco pipes, rolling machines, rolling papers and bongs.
- Hookahs and hookah lounges.
- Electronic cigarettes and tobacco devices.
- Smoking cessation products containing nicotine.
Clothing featuring a tobacco brand logo is allowed. Business sellers can sell smoking cessation products approved by the World Health Organization or the US Food and Drug Administration, even if they contain nicotine, but they're only shown to people aged 18 or over. Marijuana and marijuana products are banned under the separate drugs policy.
Drinks without alcohol aren't automatically fine either. The medical and healthcare policy bans any food or drink that makes a health or medical claim, so a listing that promises a detox or an immunity boost can be rejected.
Alcohol isn't the only restricted category, so read about selling event tickets on Facebook too.
What happens if you list alcohol
Facebook reviews listings when its systems detect a possible problem or when someone reports them, and listings that break the Commerce Policies are rejected. You can request a review from Profile status if you think it was a mistake, for example an empty decorative bottle that was flagged as a drink. If you keep breaking the rules, Facebook may limit or suspend your Marketplace access, and it warns you first when your access is at risk. Meta's policy overview adds that failing to comply can also mean removal of product tags or losing access to any or all of its commerce features across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger.
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If your listing isn't rejected but sits waiting, my guide to a Facebook Marketplace listing stuck on pending explains why. And if you've already posted something you now realise breaks the rules, here's how to delete a Facebook Marketplace listing before it's flagged.
My advice
Keep the drink and sell the gear. Bottles of anything alcoholic, home-brew kits, cigarettes and vapes all belong off Marketplace, and so do the papers and pipes. Glasses, racks, coolers and drinks books are fine. The same goes for anything living, which I've covered in can you sell animals on Facebook Marketplace.
If you want the full set, start at the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.
Related: the wine page.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell alcohol on Facebook Marketplace?
No. Meta's Commerce Policies ban alcoholic drinks of any kind and kits for making alcohol. Alcohol-related items such as glasses, coolers and wine bottle holders are allowed.
Can you sell a home brewing kit on Facebook Marketplace?
No. Kits for making alcohol are on the not allowed list in the alcohol policy.
Can you sell vapes on Facebook Marketplace?
No. Electronic cigarettes and tobacco devices are banned under Meta's tobacco products policy, along with cigarettes, rolling papers and hookahs.
Can you sell alcohol on Instagram or WhatsApp instead?
No. Meta's Commerce Policies cover commerce services across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, including Shops and the WhatsApp Business catalogue.
