Liquor Store POS Software: Top Features & Best Providers

Owning and operating a liquor store isn’t the same as generic retail. You need to verify each customer’s age, keep detailed inventory records across cases and bottles, and stay up to date on licenses and (often confusing) liquor laws.

It’s tough to do it all alone, which is why it’s so important to have an industry-specific point of sale (POS) system in place. Often dismissed as a simple payment processing tool, the right system can help with much more. 

If you’re comparing liquor store POS software options, this article breaks down what features matter most and how the top providers in 2026 stack up.

Jump to a section:

• Must-have liquor store POS software features
• Top liquor store POS software providers in 2026
  • Bottle POS
  • KORONA POS
  • mPower Beverage
  • Lightspeed
• How to choose the right POS for your store

Let’s get into it.

Must-Have Liquor Store POS Software Features

POS systems aren’t all created equal — and with good reason.

Your business’ needs are different than the deli or art supply shop down the road. By having specialized POS software, you get features that work for your specific storefront, not just what a generic provider thinks will work for any retail business.

But what exactly are those specific features, and why do they matter so much? Here are three functionalities every liquor store needs.

Built-In Age Verification and Compliance Controls

With every sale, your team must verify a customer’s age — and mistakes here can be costly. 

Without the right tools, staff have to rely on mental math or risk skipping steps entirely, which can result in legal or financial problems. 

Liquor store POS software handles age verification at checkout, using the proper hardware and software to confirm ages and enforce compliance before completing any sale.

Look for systems that support:

• ID scanning: Quickly read and verify government-issued identification.
• Automatic age calculation: Confirm a customer meets legal age requirements instantly.
• Sale blocking outside legal hours: Stop any transactions that fall outside permitted sale times.
• Verification records: Store all ID checks and blocked transactions for compliance and audits.

Even after checkout, the system keeps a detailed record of every ID scan, refused sale, and employee transaction — so you can review compliance, identify training gaps, and verify every transaction if questions arise.

Alcohol-Specific Inventory Tracking

Liquor inventory comes in bottles, packs, and cases — and moves fast. 

If what’s in the back consistently doesn’t match your records, or if you’re managing more SKUs than your current system can handle, then it might be time for an upgrade.

Look for systems that handle:

• Case breaking: Track bottles individually while updating case counts and pricing.
• Centralized product database: Access thousands of liquor items to simplify setup.
• Flexible inventory adjustments: Add/edit products from register or mobile device; manage transfers between locations.
• Integrated receiving and purchase orders: Receive multi-vendor POs, issue credit notes, and automate orders based on sales or minimum stock levels.
• Reporting and task management: Monitor performance, track inventory trends, and schedule routine operational tasks.

Relying on spreadsheets or pen and paper can leave gaps in your inventory, making it harder to spot shrink, slow movers, or seasonal trends.

Related Read: Managing Your Liquor Store Inventory: 7 Tips, Tricks, & Tools

A liquor store POS tracks all of this and records every adjustment, transfer, and case break, giving you a clear audit trail for internal reviews or state inspections.

Sales Reporting

Managing inventory and running checkout is only half the battle. You also need to know what’s selling (and what’s not) throughout the year.

Products shift with the seasons and customer preferences change, so simply guessing what customers want can result in overstock, stockouts, or missed sales opportunities. 

Liquor store POS software generates reports covering metrics like net sales, inventory, profit and loss, and employee performance so you can make more informed decisions for your business. 

Look for systems that provide:

• Gross and net sales reports: Track revenue for easier reconciliation and financial oversight.
• Built-in reporting: Access key metrics without extra setup or third-party tools.
• Daily sales summaries: Receive updates on the previous day’s performance to monitor trends and respond quickly.
• Employee-linked monitoring: See which staff are selling what, helping with training and accountability.

For example, you might notice your IPA section running low and assume you need to order more. But in reporting, your sales data show that one specific brand of IPA sells consistently, while another barely moves. 

That insight lets you adjust future orders and avoid tying up cash in slow-moving bottles — all while making sure your most popular products stay in stock.

Top Liquor Store POS Software Providers in 2026

Now that you know which features every liquor store needs, it’s time to select the right system. 

Instead of sorting through countless feature pages, use this list to compare vendors’ capabilities, pricing, and setup to find the one that best fits your business’ unique needs. 

1. Bottle POS — Built Specifically for Liquor Stores

Best for: Liquor stores that need alcohol-specific workflows, built-in compliance, and robust inventory management

Built by liquor store owners for liquor store owners, Bottle POS focuses on the realities of running an alcohol retail business. It seamlessly handles compliance, pricing, inventory, customer loyalty, and even e-commerce — without costly add-ons.

Standout features include:

• Inventory and product tracking: Manage cases, packs, and bottles; highlight bestsellers and slow movers with A-B-C-D rankings and color alerts.
• Invoice automation: Scan supplier invoices to update pricing, add products, and print shelf tags in minutes.
• Customer and loyalty tools: Track purchase history, offer custom pricing, run promotions, and manage loyalty programs.
• Sales and payment flexibility: Accept mobile and contactless payments, dual pricing, and custom cashouts.
• Reporting and oversight: Receive daily sales summaries, track staff activity, and monitor alerts across locations.
• E-commerce integration: Sync online and in-store inventory with BottleZoo.

Bottle POS offers flexible plans for liquor stores of all sizes, from single locations to multi-store operations. The free Build & Price tool helps you map out the right setup for your store.

With a 4.8/5 star rating on Google Reviews, it’s easy to see why over 3,000 customers rely on Bottle POS to support their liquor business.

2. KORONA POS — Compliance-Focused and Customizable

Best for: Liquor stores that need precise, per-employee compliance tracking and multilocation audit logging for detailed oversight

Bonus Resource: KORONA POS vs. Bottle POS: Which Is Best for Liquor Stores?

KORONA POS is a cloud-based system that gives store owners the tools to manage multiple locations, track inventory, enforce age verification, and maintain detailed audit logs — all while supporting loyalty programs and promotions.

Standout features include:

• Employee permissions & audit logs: Assign detailed employee permissions and track actions for compliance and loss prevention.
• Automated reorder thresholds: Set automatic reorder points by SKU, including slow movers and seasonal items.
• Handheld inventory scanning: Conduct cycle counts, case breaks, and audits on handheld devices.
• Integrated advertising tools: Export inventory to run location-based ads on social media platforms.

Pricing starts at $59/month for standard operations and $69/month for inventory-heavy or multilocation setups. Add-ons like automated invoicing, order automation, e-commerce, and multilocation inventory cost extra.

With 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, customers highlight KORONA’s reliable support, ability to handle complex inventory-heavy workflows, and the clarity it provides for compliance-focused stores.

3. mPower Beverage Software— For Highly-Detailed Inventory and Ordering

Best for: Liquor stores that need multilocation inventory management with case/pack/single tracking and highly customizable product data.

mPower Beverage Software caters exclusively to beer, wine, and liquor retailers. Its POS handles complex inventory setups, multilocation management, and detailed customer insights, with tools designed specifically to reflect beverage retail operations.

Standout features include:

• Suggested ordering reports: Generate purchase recommendations based on sales velocity, par counts, and deals.
• Custom product attributes: Add origin, varietal, vintage, flavor, and tasting notes for each item.
• Handheld app support: Scan, count, and update inventory on Zebra mobile devices.
• Integrated loyalty & gift cards: Track customer purchases and reward programs at checkout.

Pricing starts at $1,000 upfront for one register plus $120/month, with each additional register costing $250 upfront and $120/month. 

mPower customers give it 4.1 out of 5 stars on Capterra, highlighting strong inventory management, detailed product tracking, and responsive customer support, though some note learning curves and limited 24/7 availability.

4. Lightspeed — Unified Commerce for Liquor Stores

Best for: Liquor stores that want advanced reporting, multichannel sales, and customizable workflows

Lightspeed supports liquor retailers with a unified platform that manages in-store and online sales, inventory, customer loyalty, and staff oversight. Its open API allows stores to build custom workflows, while built-in reporting provides insights into sales trends, peak hours, and product performance across locations.

Standout features include:

• Inventory and product management: Monitor stock levels and receive data-driven reorder recommendations.
• Multichannel sales: Sell in store, online, via social channels, and with preorders or subscriptions.
• Payments and age verification: Accept all major card types, Apple/Google Pay, and other digital methods while prompting staff to verify age at checkout.
• Reporting and insights: Generate reports on sales, inventory, and staff performance, accessible from mobile devices.

Pricing starts at $89/month for their Basic plan and ranges up to $289/month for their most advanced tier, each including different levels of reporting, loyalty, API access, and workflow customization.

With 4.2 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, Lightspeed customers note its responsive onboarding, knowledgeable support team, and the platform’s flexibility to suit complex liquor store operations.

How To Choose the Right Liquor Store POS Software

After reviewing features and top providers, the next step is to decide which POS fits your liquor store.

Start by matching the system’s capabilities to your store’s operations. High-volume shops with multiple deliveries, for example, need inventory tools that handle case breaks and mixed packs. 

Check how the system handles tasks unique to liquor retail:

• Can the system track partial cases, split pallets, or special orders from local breweries and wineries?
• Does the POS flag underage customers for tastings or mixed-item sales?
• Can it show top-selling craft spirits by day or highlight slow-moving bottles that tie up cash flow?
• Can you process returns without manually adjusting inventory?
• Does it update in-store and online inventory automatically?
• Can new team members learn the system quickly? 

For extra insight, frame questions around real scenarios from your store. Explain how your current system handles it, where it falls short, and ask how the new software would manage the same situation.

Maybe a few months ago, your store received a shipment with missing bottles, and your old workflow required you to adjust orders and inventory manually. During your demo, you can bring up this example to ask how the new system would have handled that situation — would it update inventory automatically, or would you still need to intervene? 

Coming prepared with real examples and questions lets you see how the software performs in situations that actually happen in your store — helping you better compare systems and choose the one that supports your team best.

Next Steps: Find Your Ideal Liquor Store POS Software

Selecting the right liquor store POS software is no small feat. It shapes how your store runs day to day, from age verification and compliance tracking to case-level inventory management and sales reporting.

For liquor stores that need a system built just for them, Bottle POS checks every box. It handles complex orders, tracks every bottle, supports loyalty programs, and syncs in-store and online inventory — all without the hassle of manual processes.

Use our free Build & Price tool to design a Bottle POS setup tailored to your store and pay only for what you need. Your ideal POS solution is just a few clicks away!