USPS eyes alcohol deliveries

WASHINGTON — Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe has a wish list for raising cash for his financially ailing agency. High on it is delivery of beer, wine and spirits.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Donahoe also endorsed ending most door-to-door and Saturday mail deliveries as cost-saving measures.

Donahoe says delivering alcohol has the potential to raise as much as $50 million a year. The Postal Service says mailing alcoholic beverages is currently restricted by law. Customers are even told to cover any logos or labels if they use alcoholic beverage boxes for shipments.

The agency lost $16 billion last year and is working toward restructuring its retail, delivery and mail processing operations.

A House committee has passed legislation that would cut letter deliveries to five days and phase out door-to-door deliveries.