Raising standards in alcohol e-commerce to prevent sale to those underage and drinking harmfully

IARD’s member companies, the world’s leading beer, wine, and spirits producers, are working in partnership with 19 prominent global and regional online retailers, and e-commerce and delivery platforms to deliver global standards for the online sale and delivery of alcohol. 

Together they are putting in place five key safeguards to help ensure that robust standards are in place throughout the entire supply chain and customer journey to prevent online sale to those underage and to combat harmful drinking as e-commerce growth accelerates. 

1. Verifying sales to those over legal purchase age
2. Preventing delivery to those underaged, intoxicated, or where prohibited by law
3. Training tools, information, and education of drivers
4. Enhancing consumer information and control
5. Monitoring

This international initiative is part of IARD members’ wider efforts to combat underage drinking by preventing sales to minors, and to reduce harmful drinking – it also speaks directly to the United Nations’ 2018 Political declaration on non-communicable diseases, which calls for concrete steps towards eliminating the marketing, advertising, and sale of alcohol products to minors.

To further support these standards, IARD has launched training to support anyone delivering alcohol to do so responsibly and in accordance with the law.