The New Zealand Herald, 29 november 2024;
- Three-quarters of alcohol deliveries to Auckland homes are being left unattended on doorsteps or being made without checking IDs, according to new research in the NZ Medical Journal.
- This could lead to more children drinking alcohol as well as a spike in binge drinking and domestic violence, researchers warn.
- ID checks on delivery for online sales are not required under NZ law.
A health group is warning there could be more Auckland children drinking alcohol, and a spike in domestic violence, now booze can be ordered without ID checks and delivered to homes ultra-fast.
The new Alcohol Healthwatch study published this week in the New Zealand Medical Journal has found almost three-quarters (73%) of online alcohol orders in Auckland are either being delivered without ID checks or being left unattended on doorsteps.
Sarah Sneyd, the report’s lead author, said most Kiwis expect alcohol to be served responsibly.
There were “many risks” associated with the fact deliveries could arrive as fast as within 17 minutes, and be left unattended, she said. “We know from research that the easier it is to get alcohol, the more is consumed, and the more harm there is,” she said. “For alcohol delivered to homes, this has major implications for family violence, child maltreatment, and continuing binge drinking sessions long after they would have otherwise wound up.”