A new report by Alcohol Concern Cymru says children are often able to access alcohol via home delivery services. Earlier this year an online survey of nearly 1,000 people in Wales aged 14 and 17 years old explored their use of online supermarket grocery services and latenight and 24 hour alcohol home delivery services.
See the full report 'On your doorstep; underage access to alcohol via home delivery services'.
15 per cent of the young people surveyed stated they had successfully bought alcohol online, and over two thirds of these said they found it “easy” to do so. Similarly, 13 per cent said they had successfully bought alcohol by telephone from a home delivery service, and again over two thirds of these said it was “easy”. Both methods were chosen by many because they are considered easy ways to bypass age verification checks, and as a quick and convenient way of acquiring alcohol.
In March 2013 South Wales Police undertook test purchase operations in Cardiff, using 15 year olds, to find out whether they were able to buy alcohol from major supermarket grocery websites. They too, found that alcohol could be purchased online with relative ease. In 44 per cent of the test cases, alcohol was delivered to the test purchasers in person with no proof of age requested.
A previous research report last year said online alcohol sales and purchasing by friends and family are creating a significant and emerging battleground in the fight against underage drinking in England.
Three recommendations flow from the Alcohol Concern Cymru report:
- Supermarkets and other off-trade retailers providing home delivery services should review their existing age verification procedures at both the point of sale and delivery stages. Receipt of orders that contain alcohol must be by an adult. Retailers should ensure that delivery staff have appropriate training around requesting and identifying proof of age, and should implement these procedures as standard.
- Further research should be undertaken in determining the proportion of children and young people who buy alcohol online and/or by telephone. More widespread test purchasing by police and trading standards is recommended.
- The UK Government should review the efficacy of current licensing law relating to the home delivery of alcohol, in terms of whether it adequately protects children and young people from alcohol-related harm.
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