The New South Wales government is heightening its surveillance on express and online alcohol delivery operators as businesses start to re-open after Covid lockdowns. It will start a two-phase operation and conduct secret shopper activities as part of the campaign.
With Covid restrictions and increased reforms implemented in July to prevent selling alcohol to minors and problem drinkers, many businesses such as bars, bottle shops, small bars, hotel and restaurants, adopted an online or packaged liquor license to remain operational.
In 2020, Liquor & Gaming NSW took regulatory action against 21 individuals and corporations for unlicensed liquor sales and deliveries. Court-ordered fines and convictions occurred multiple times and were the impetus for the reforms implemented this year.
Liquor & Gaming NSW director compliance Dimitri Argeres said the two-phase operation involves a mandatory training audit, data records, supplier websites, self-inclusion option checks and ID verification on point of sale.
“Then we will hit the underground. We will be conducting covert secret shopper activities to see how successful we are at buying alcohol outside the legal obligations and whether any laws are breached, all the way to the front door.
“We will be testing those requirements, just like a minor or intoxicated person might do, to make sure that the legislation is functioning as intended and that delivery providers are complying with their obligations,” said Argeres.
As part of the additional reforms, delivering alcohol outside of trading hours to a minor or an intoxicated person, along with failing to provide an online avenue for self-exclusion will result in stronger offences.
Same day delivery will now mandate an additional requirement for checking identification and age, as well as training for delivery drivers. Alcohol businesses must also provide Liquor & Gaming NSW a six-monthly data report on same day deliveries and locations.
Argeres said all businesses should become familiar with the law.
“Alcohol can now be bought and delivered in as little as 30 minutes and without regulatory safeguards the business model is easily abused.
“All delivery provider staff had to be trained by 1 December and we want to see providers updating their websites to reflect their obligations as well as practicing responsible service of alcohol within allowed trading hours,” he said.
