In the United Kingdom, online shops fail to check age on alcohol sales, new research shows.
A survey finds less than half of delivery staff ask for ID when handing over goods that minors are banned from buying. This failure by the alcohol industry to comply with the law means children can get their hands on alcohol despite a legal ban.
The research is based on 1,000 internet test purchases over three years.
Web stores are failing to carry out age checks when making home deliveries of alcohol and tobacco products. A survey found 56% of delivery staff did not carry out checks when handing over alcohol products on the doorstep.
The research was carried out by Serve Legal and is based on 1,000 test purchases via the web over the past three years.
An area of major concern is home shopping where ID checks at the point of delivery are rare. Online retailers have passed just 44% of age check tests in the last three years. Delivery companies must remember that failure to ask for ID on the doorstep when delivering age-restricted products to young-looking people is against the law.”
The findings confirm research by the advocacy group Alcohol Concern, which found that 15% of 14 to 15 year-olds had successfully bought alcohol online.
The UK governments needs to take measures in order to better protect children and youth by making alcohol less readily available.