The NSW/ACT Alcohol Policy Alliance (NAAPA) is calling for restrictions on the sale of alcohol through services such as Uber Eats and AfterPay.
NAAPA, an alliance of health, community, emergency services and research organisations, is proposing restrictions be placed on the sale of alcohol via the internet.
Its suggested reforms would ban Uber Eats and other food delivery services from selling alcohol. Alcohol sales would also not be allowed via AfterPay or similar ‘buy now pay later’ services. The recommendations would also see online alcohol deliveries on a next-day only basis.
NAAPA says these measures would assist law-makers to address the rapidly growing online alcohol market, which, according to IBIS World, is expanding at the rate of 11 per cent per year.
“There are more than 500 online-only liquor outlets, which is a 10-fold increase in the past decade, in addition to the growing number of ‘bricks and mortar’ outlets offering 30 minute home delivery services,” Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education chief executive and NAAPA spokesman Michael Thorn said.
Thorn said the proposed measures to address online alcohol sales and delivery are an achievable policy reform that embrace the sharing economy while guarding against alcohol harm, and will give regulators an opportunity to catch-up with alcohol market innovations.
“There are gaping holes in the state’s regulation of the fast-growing market of online alcohol sales and delivery, with glaring under-regulation around responsible service of alcohol (RSA) and proof of age controls,” Thorn said.
“The online market is poorly controlled, making it easier for underage and intoxicated people to access alcohol, leading to more harm to drinkers and those around them,” he said.
NAAPA said the NSW Government has an obligation to protect all its citizens against agents of harm, including alcohol.
“Ahead of the NSW election, NAAPA is calling on the Government, Opposition, The Greens and other political parties to declare their commitment to prioritising these policy reforms to achieve a healthier and safer NSW,” Thorn said.
The state’s leading coalition of health professionals, community members, community sector workers, researchers and advocates developed NAAPA’s Election Platform to put alcohol harm on the March election agenda.
