Alcohol Deliveries

[broadfield78]

Hi everyone. After days and days of researching this topic I stumbled on your forum - what a thoroughly helpful resource it is and thank you for giving us customers a way to ask questions of you in this way.

Can anyone help me? I am in the process of launching a new Gin brand and wanted to use Royal Mail as my primary delivery service because although it might not be the cheapest out there these days I still consider it, and the staff who do the job, the best and most reliable.

I am struggling though to understand how the rule of only delivering alcohol to someone over the age of 18 is met? I have looked at many other online shops out there and they all seem to just send using Royal Mail Tracked/Signature Required. They dont use the Age Verification service RM offer.

I know the package has to be labelled properly and marked as 'fragile' etc. but how do you posties know to make sure only someone aged 18 or over takes delivery of these items? Or is it the case that you only allow an adult to sign for a parcel?

To anyone who can spare the time to reply - thank you

[P13]

If the person who answers the door looks over 25 we hand it over , if they look younger we need to see photo id

[broadfield78]

Thank you - and that’s just for the standard tracked 24/48 service?

[P13]

Thank you - and that’s just for the standard tracked 24/48 service?

No that's if you use age verification, if you use standard tracked it would just be handed over to whoever answered the door

[broadfield78]

Ok - that was my original question really - I don’t get how all these online alcohol delivery shops aren’t getting done for breaking the law if they aren’t using the age verification service and just using standard delivery? (Which they seem to)

[P13]

Ok - that was my original question really - I don’t get how all these online alcohol delivery shops aren’t getting done for breaking the law if they aren’t using the age verification service and just using standard delivery? (Which they seem to)

The only age verification parcels I've delivered tend to be from amazon .

[2yearpostie]

We are only obliged to check id if the label we scan prompts us too. We have no other way of knowing what is in the box, so you are correct if other customers are sending alcohol (and blades) out without the age verification they are breaking the law and not the courier.

[Woody Guthrie]

I know it's a bit strange but it's actually down to your local authority when you apply for your licences whether they stipulate age verification on delivery or simply at point of purchase and on the website.

It's part of your licence conditions so although obviously selling to minors is against the law not asking for age verification on delivery technically isn't.

In a nutshell it will depend on your location and your particular local authority online alcohol sales licence conditions.

[fb1969]

Only ever had about half a dozen Age Verification parcels and they have all been knives/blades from Amazon. But every few weeks I get half a dozen parcels from a club that sends bottles of Gin and they aren't Age Verification. Likewise a few years ago there were mailings than contained a sachet of wine, they weren't even Tracked items.

[SpacePhoenix]

Only ever had about half a dozen Age Verification parcels and they have all been knives/blades from Amazon. But every few weeks I get half a dozen parcels from a club that sends bottles of Gin and they aren't Age Verification. Likewise a few years ago there were mailings than contained a sachet of wine, they weren't even Tracked items.

I don't recalled ever seeing any alcohol postings ever using the age verification option

[ImogenM]

I have had a couple of parcels which appeared to be alcohol from what was on the outside of the box and required age verification.

[NWpostie]

I've ordered beer from breweries before, the only age verification I could see was was tick a box confirming I'm over 18 and used my debit card to pay for it.

As far as I'm aware no age verification was asked as it was dropped off at my parents address as I'm out for work most were private couriors and one was by Parcelforce.

So I would imagine of you tick to confirm that you are over 18 and using a valid debit/credit card you're covered.

[POSTMAN]

I presume you have seen all of these...

Why have I been asked to provide proof of my age / identity before my item is handed over?

Age Verfication Service Terms & Conditions ... - Royal Mail

[POSTMAN]

I know it's a bit strange but it's actually down to your local authority when you apply for your licences whether they stipulate age verification on delivery or simply at point of purchase and on the website.

It's part of your licence conditions so although obviously selling to minors is against the law not asking for age verification on delivery technically isn't.

In a nutshell it will depend on your location and your particular local authority online alcohol sales licence conditions.

Weirdly none of that makes sense, they are sending what they are sending through RM and although there is 'the law', it's RM's T&c'S that matter.
Never heard of the council thing, is it a Scottish thing?

PS: Hurry up and get my thing, try harder.

[Woody Guthrie]

Alcohol licensing and regulation is devolved down to local authority level right across the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/alcohol-licence-your-area

Each area has slightly different criteria.

Online sales are one of those things that differs from one local authority to another.

Some authorities require AV at point of entry to the website and point of purchase.
Others also require AV at point of delivery.

Royal Mail’s AV terms and conditions only apply if you are required to use the AV service by your licence conditions. *Otherwise you don't have to use AV at all.

Weirdly I don't think your thing exists because no one can lay their hands on it, it should exist and technically it has to but it don't.