Use an app on your smartphone for alcohol on your doorstep in less than an hour?

It sounds too good to be true. But the folks behind the booze-delivery app Drizly announced that they've just launched in Los Angeles. The app can help bring bring beer, wine and spirits to you if you live in Silverlake, Venice, Westwood, Beverly Hills, Miracle Mile, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City and Koreatown, its makers say.

See also: Alcohol Delivery Via Smartphone App? It's Legit

But California alcohol law is strict. Is this legal?
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Apparently it is. According to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, liquor stores … 

… must make any alcohol deliveries from the licensed premises. Licensees may only take telephone orders for alcohol when the store is open to the general public.

The people behind Drizly, who say they came to L.A. last week right after receiving a nearly $5 million round of funding, have a pretty ingenious system:

They route orders to a legit liquor store in your neighborhood that has signed on to be a part of the app's network and to get that business.

The app maker claims that the prices are no different from what you'd find from the store, save for the tip it hopes you'll give to the driver.

Credit: Guzzle Nosh/L.A. Weekly Flickr pool

Credit: Guzzle Nosh/L.A. Weekly Flickr pool

In Boston, where the start-up is based, it charges users a $5 fee for all deliveries. There's also a $20 minimum there.

It's not clear if there's a minimum order cost in L.A., but the company says it will give you $10 off your first purchase until June 30 as part of an L.A. launch promotion. The promotion code is “WELCOMELA.”

Drizly is also up and running in New York and Chicago.

CEO Nick Rellas says:

By delivering in Los Angeles, Drizly is now the only service of its kind with a national footprint and always the same prices as in-store. 

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