The article carrier for bottles and the like includes a bottom wall, opposed side walls joined to the bottom wall along opposite side edges thereof, and end wall panels joined respectively to the end edges of the side walls and extending inwardly of the carrier. A first pair of riser panels is foldably joined respectively to the end wall panels at one end of the carrier, is foldably joined to each other along a riser fold line, and extends medially inward of the carrier. A second pair of riser panels is foldably joined respectively to the opposite end wall panels and extends medially inward of the carrier. A pair of handle panels is foldably joined respectively to the first pair of riser panels and is foldably joined to each other along a handle fold line. The first pair of riser panels is provided with a plurality of elongated openings which lie with their axes of elongation along the riser fold line so as to extend into each of the first pair of riser panels. At least one of the elongated openings has its side edges extending inwardly from each end of the opening to lie along the riser fold line. The side edges of the one elongated opening cooperate with the handle fold line during folding to force the panels to fold in the proper alignment.

A two-piece, crash-bottom basket carrier includes a bottom wall, a pair of opposing side walls, a pair of opposing end walls, a longitudinal partition, and one or more transverse partitions. The side walls and the end walls extend upward from the bottom wall, and the end walls bridge the opposing side walls. The bottom wall, the side walls, and the end walls are all formed from a first unitary paperboard blank. The longitudinal partition extends between the opposing end walls and is located approximately midway between the opposing side walls. The longitudinal partition is generally perpendicular to the bottom wall and the end walls and is generally parallel to the side walls. A handle is formed along an upper central handle section of the longitudinal partition to permit carrying of the basket carrier. Each of the transverse partitions extends between the longitudinal partition and one of the side walls. The transverse partitions are generally perpendicular to the bottom wall and the side walls and are generally parallel to the end walls. The transverse partitions serve to divide the interior of the basket carrier into multiple cells suitable for receiving respective beverage bottles. The longitudinal and transverse partitions are formed from a second unitary paperboard blank.