Ireland is moving into “dangerous territory” as a swell in delivery services during the pandemic gifts unprecedented access to alcohol for underage drinkers, campaigners have warned.
Alcohol Forum, a charity working against harmful drinking, said “really risky practices are creeping in” around drinks sales with greater enforcement needed against illegal delivery services as well as tougher regulation for the licensed off-sales trade.
Paula Leonard, the organisation’s head of community action, said 24-hour “dial a drink” services are operating “outside any licensing regime”, mainly in Dublin but springing up in provincial towns countrywide during the crisis.
“That is an enforcement issue and it will grow and grow rapidly if nothing is done about,” she said.
Ireland is moving into “dangerous territory” as a swell in delivery services during the pandemic gifts unprecedented access to alcohol for underage drinkers, campaigners have warned.
Alcohol Forum, a charity working against harmful drinking, said “really risky practices are creeping in” around drinks sales with greater enforcement needed against illegal delivery services as well as tougher regulation for the licensed off-sales trade.
Paula Leonard, the organisation’s head of community action, said 24-hour “dial a drink” services are operating “outside any licensing regime”, mainly in Dublin but springing up in provincial towns countrywide during the crisis.
“That is an enforcement issue and it will grow and grow rapidly if nothing is done about,” she said.
Breaches
Illegal sellers buy large quantities of alcohol at licensed retailers and then sell it on through delivery at a significant mark up. Many advertise on social media.
Ms Leonard said there is also a growing problem “exacerbated by the Covid crisis” of off-licences delivering to customers without first checking their age.
Pollsters Red C carried out a survey for the charity in May which found almost one in 10 people who drink had used alcohol delivery services over the previous 12 months. Three per cent paid for the alcohol over the phone, 2 per cent when it arrived at their home, and 1 per cent bought it from the boot of a car or paid a taxi driver for it
Source: Brian Hutton, The Irish Times, 15/12/20
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