The 12 member companies of The IARD have launched the first global standards for the online sale and delivery of alcohol beverages, in partnership with 14 global and regional online retailers as well as a range of e-commerce and delivery platforms. The standards will enhance safeguards to prevent online alcohol sale and delivery to those underage or intoxicated, and where prohibited by law.
Euromonitor International figures indicate that, although the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of hospitality venues in most countries resulted in global alcohol sales volumes declining by more than 6% year-on-year in 2020, the shift to e-commerce has accelerated with the sale and delivery of alcohol online increasing by 33% globally.
In response to these trends, IARD’s members and their partners have identified five key safeguards to help ensure that robust standards are in place throughout the entire supply chain and customer journey to combat harmful drinking. These are:
- Improving safeguards and security measures that aim to prevent minors from being able to buy alcohol
- Putting in place mechanisms to prevent beer, wine, and spirits being delivered to minors, to individuals showing visible signs of intoxication, or where prohibited by law
- Providing information and education to drivers to empower them to deny delivery
- Enhancing consumer information and control, and
- Promoting global standards as a resource to support the development of national-level codes and practices for the online sale and delivery of alcohol that build on local and national regulation
“This partnership reflects the shared determination of leading alcohol producers, online retailers and e-commerce platforms to combat the harmful use of alcohol in all its forms,” said IARD chair & Beam Suntory CEO Albert Baladi. “These global safeguards for alcohol e-commerce cover the entire online purchase journey – starting from the moment a consumer begins the purchase process all the way through to the moment of delivery, helping ensure these orders don’t reach underage individuals or visibly intoxicated people.”
IARD CEO Henry Ashworth added: “This is a true world-first initiative in raising standards of responsibility across the board for e-commerce. This international partnership has worked together to set global standards for the online sale and delivery of alcohol beverages, taking further concrete steps towards the elimination of alcohol sales to minors. IARD is proud to have united the world’s leading drinks producers with leading online retailers and e-commerce platforms and we invite others to join us in this collaboration to raise global standards.”
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For further details on The International Alliance for Responsible Drinking, click here
