Age Verification - Alcohol Deliveries

[Kate Rothery]

Hi all, long time browser of the forum, first time poster - nice to finally get involved....

I am in the process of launching a new alcohol brand and am having trouble in deciphering exactly what is required of me from an age verification perspective. The company will only sell online and deliver to the end the customer (no face to face sales)

Just to confirm, I have obtained a Personal License and am looking at either renting a premises and applying for a Premises licence, or partnering with a specialist fulfilment centre.

We plan to embrace the age verification guidelines and use tech via our checkout page to verify the customers age and address behind the scenes (following up with anyone who fails as exceptions).

However, guidelines also state that the recipient of a delivery of alcohol should also be aged over 18. When we look at many competitors, they all seem to send their orders via standard or tracked Royal Mail. When I ask various alcohol fulfilment centres how they handle this requirement they have all said "Our existing clients just verify the age of the customer at point of sale"

Can anyone who works in the industry shed any light? If we apply for our own premises license and state we will only check customer ID at point of sale, is that likely to lead the application being turned down?

Thanks to anyone who had the time to read and reply! Kate

 

[Financial-Modeller]

Why not order something for home delivery from your competitor(s) and see how they / their couriers do it?

 

[Mark T Jones]

When I did deliveries for Morrissons we were required to get photo ID for anyone who 'appeared' to be under 21

There was little evidence of any checks being in place, but I guess it's the kind of thing that can backfire after the event

 

[Kate Rothery]

>Why not order something for home delivery from your competitor(s) and see how they / their couriers do it?

Tried ordering from 3 competitors recently - all 3 arrived via Royal Mail requiring a signature, but no ID check

 

[fisicx]

It's like anything you order online. The checks take place at point of sale not delivery. RM or a courier don't care who signs for the parcel. They are responsible for delivery not verification.

 

[Kate Rothery]

It's like anything you order online. The checks take place at point of sale not delivery. RM or a courier don't care who signs for the parcel. They are responsible for delivery not verification.

From what I understand that means all the companies selling the alcohol are at risk of a big fine because the guidelines states verification needs to be at point of sale, and point of delivery also. I dont get how they are all avoiding doing it!

 

[Mark T Jones]

This guide from Hampshire County Council

https://www.hants.gov.uk/business/tradingstandards/businessadvice/underagesales/onlineagerestricted

Which appears to boil down to - do your own thing but we'll fine you if you get it wrong!

 

[Newchodge]

>Why not order something for home delivery from your competitor(s) and see how they / their couriers do it?

Tried ordering from 3 competitors recently - all 3 arrived via Royal Mail requiring a signature, but no ID check

Do you look over 18? You need to order from a competitor and have someone who appears to be 16 try to accept it.

 

[Kate Rothery]

This guide from Hampshire County Council

Which appears to boil down to - do your own thing but we'll fine you if you get it wrong!

Thank you, thats interesting, and pretty much where I have ended up also! It seems either using Royal Mail age verification delivery which is EXPENSIVE! (about £7.65 per item), or risk a £20,000 fine for getting it wrong. I just cant believe most other alcohol delivery businesses are happy to take that chance!

 

[Newchodge]

Thank you, thats interesting, and pretty much where I have ended up also! It seems either using Royal Mail age verification delivery which is EXPENSIVE! (about £7.65 per item), or risk a £20,000 fine for getting it wrong. I just cant believe most other alcohol delivery businesses are happy to take that chance!

Presumably it would also risk your licence.

 

[Kate Rothery]

Do you look over 18? You need to order from a competitor and have someone who appears to be 16 try to accept it.

I'm 21, so I thought I'd be challenged under the "Challenge 25" process

 

[Newchodge]

I'm 21, so I thought I'd be challenged under the "Challenge 25" process

"Challenge 25" is not a legal requirement. It is something put in place by supermarkets to explain why someone who is over 18 may be challenged to prove their age.

 

[Kate Rothery]

"Challenge 25" is not a legal requirement. It is something put in place by supermarkets to explain why someone who is over 18 may be challenged to prove their age.

Yes true, but I have reviewed many online Premises licence applications and most state they are adopting it to satisfy the licensing requirements. Though seemingly most are not doing it!

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

Probably not much help but I've ordered alcohol deliveries using Deliveroo and they've asked for at least my date of birth on every occasion and entered it into their app, on some occasions they also asked to see my ID. Not sure if that's a legal requirement though or Deliveroo covering their own backs?

Like I say this info probably doesn't help in your case, sorry

 

[fisicx]

I get a box of craft beer delivered each month. Courier leaves it outside the door. Same when the wife gets wine.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Photo ID at the point of delivery
If your using an overnight courier it is their responsibility but if it is left in a safe place then that's enough as you have already verified the age of the buyer
In reality none of the overnight couriers concern themselves with age verification as they have depots doing thousands of consignments a day and all they want to do is get rid of it at all costs !

 

[Iain Venn]

I have had a couple of bottles sent via dpd and they asked for id on the doorstep. They might be a good delivery partner for you.

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

Amazon delivered a bottle of gin to me not long ago, and the Amazon delivery girl asked to see my ID at the doorstep.

I'm 34, and I look 44.

 

[Opinion87]

Deliveroo ask for your date of birth but I would say maybe 1% of the time they actually check my ID and I'm quite a young looking early 30's. I've given random days/months of birth to see if it flags on their system, but it doesn't- unless they assume 20 people live in my flat...

 

[Kate Rothery]

Thanks all for the comments - I guess I am back where I started really! As far as I am aware companies should be ensuring ID is checked on delivery, yet it doesn't seem to happen a lot of the time. So its either that lots of companies are risking their licenses and big fines, or that the licensing authorities dont seem to do much about it!

 

[Opinion87]

Thanks all for the comments - I guess I am back where I started really! As far as I am aware companies should be ensuring ID is checked on delivery, yet it doesn't seem to happen a lot of the time. So its either that lots of companies are risking their licenses and big fines, or that the licensing authorities dont seem to do much about it!

The licensing team for our small city is I believe three people. There are enough licenced venues, off licences etc. that get away with murder because the resources just aren't there, the likes of Deliveroo or JustEat are probably way, way down their list.

Have you spoken to your local licencing team? Most are incredibly helpful.

 

[UKSBD]

Thanks all for the comments - I guess I am back where I started really! As far as I am aware companies should be ensuring ID is checked on delivery

Where does it actually say that though, and what is the actual wording?

The link posted earlier talks about verifying when selling, is there anything in the legislation about the seller being responsible for delivering too?

 

[IanSuth]

Direct Wines/Laithwaites/Sunday Times/Orange/Telegraph wine club (the same company) have been basically doing this for 30 years with no issue. As others have said the box just appears on the doorstep

I suppose it may be by getting scheme members to state they are 18 up front but I was never asked for ID in all the years i used their service. Internet booze deliveries are just a faster version of mail order booze deliveries

 

[Kate Rothery]

Hi, All premises licence applications will be judged on the potential impact on the licensing objectives - in this case the protection of children from harm.
If you are checking ID at the point of sale via the website and have due diligence in place to ensure that the customer matches the ID then you will be doing more than the majority of large online retailers.
We have two similar applications ongoing and one of the key measures is around managing the risk. If your website solely sells alcohol then the risk will be greater, if you website sells candles, but you want to sell the odd bottle of gin, and you kow your customer base is primarily women aged 30-50 (two extreme examples I know) then you should include that detail in your operating schedule to let the authorities know.

Hope that helps, feel free to message

Thank you for taking the time to give such a comprehensive reply - very helpful. Kate.