A North East alcohol programme is calling for more regulation on alcohol delivery services
Millions worried about rising harm as 1 in 5 adults order rapid alcohol deliveries weekly
Nearly half a million people in the North East (487,000 people) are estimated to be using rapid delivery services to order fast alcohol regularly.
Among them will be many people already exceeding low-risk guidelines – who are twice as likely to order rapid alcohol deliveries at least once a week.
Balance has voiced alarm at the findings of the UK-wide survey by Alcohol Change UK which suggests more than 12 million UK adults in the UK are using rapid delivery services to order alcohol at least once a week, prompting warnings about the impact of round-the-clock access on alcohol dependency, fuelling a wide range of alcohol-related harms.
A further 3 million say they are worried about someone else’s increasing alcohol consumption because of rapid delivery apps.
They say use - and harm - is higher among people already more at risk - with more than four in 10 (43%) already drinking above low risk guidelines of 14 units per week using rapid delivery weekly, compared to fewer than two in 10 lower-risk drinkers.
The North East saw a 17.4% fall in alcohol-specific deaths between 2023-24 – the highest rate in England. However deaths in the region are still the highest in the country.
Concerns have also been raised around online alcohol delivery services being used by children, fuelling underage drinking without proper age checks.
Susan Taylor, Head of Alcohol Policy for Fresh and Balance, said: “This survey shows the sheer scale of exposure to cheap, easily accessible alcohol in the North East, driven by rapid online delivery services.
“It is clear we need action to strengthen age verifications to prevent alcohol ending up in the hands of children, but also to help people at risk avoid the pressure to drink.”
Karen Slater, 55, is a Newcastle mum of four. She experienced alcohol harm first-hand around family violence, and sought solace in alcohol, drugs and self-harm but broke free through alcohol recovery and is now sober.
She said: “Any type of alcohol promotion is reminding people to drink - and the fact that it now intrudes into your home – whether that’s on your phone or the TV – is unacceptable. My home is my refuge.
“I used these types of fast delivery services when I was dependent, especially when it was late at night or I couldn’t get out of the house. Your judgement can go after a few drinks and you’re willing to pay premium prices just to get hold of a few more drinks.
“Now though, the quick availability is even easier and faster than ever before for something which is toxic and addictive. It is profit before consequences which all adds to the problems alcohol creates for both people and communities.”
Key findings from the ACUK report:
• One in five adults (22%) report ordering alcohol for rapid delivery at least once a week, representing 12 million people
• Around 7 million report ordering alcohol while already drunk, while 8 million say someone in their household has done the same
• 3 million say they are worried about someone else’s increasing alcohol consumption because of rapid delivery apps
Dr Richard Piper, CEO of Alcohol Change UK, said: “Rapid alcohol deliveries are causing harm across our society, with around 12 million people now ordering alcohol via these services weekly. Among them are many already drinking in ways that will be impacting their health and wellbeing.
“This is not a niche problem. Rapid delivery has quickly become a part of daily life in the UK and a significant driver of dangerous alcohol consumption. Too many are falling prey to round-the-clock access through these services. Convenience has a cost – rising harm to the nation’s health and wellbeing, hampering efforts to drink less or stop drinking alcohol, and destroying the peace of mind of loved ones.”
Balance is supportive of recommendations from Alcohol Change UK to solve the rapid delivery crisis and prevent further avoidable alcohol harm:
- Robust age verification and intoxication checks - both at point of ordering and point of delivery, with delivery drivers given enough training, time and support to carry these out.
- Make it easier for individuals, and their family members, to ‘block’ their own access to ordering alcohol on delivery services like apps and supermarket accounts – just like existing gambling blocks, these need to be robust and not easy to over-turn.
- Introduce a ‘pause’ - enable a generous pause between ordering and delivery of alcohol when the order is over a certain amount.
- Reduce the hours that alcohol can be delivered directly to our home - for example between 10am and 10pm.