How Can Online Stores Prevent Underage Alcohol Sales?
The shift to online shopping has made it easier than ever to purchase alcoholic drinks. Now, consumers can choose from a massive range of different products and have their purchases delivered directly to their doors. However, this convenience comes at a cost – it’s now more difficult for retailers to prevent underage alcohol sales.
While digital technology has transformed the ecommerce landscape, businesses must take steps to ensure they are not in breach of laws related to age-restricted products. Let’s take a look at how retailers can prevent the sale of alcohol to underage customers.
Online Alcohol Sales
Last year, online alcohol sales generated global revenue of $35.05bn. The industry is only expected to grow, with financial forecasts predicting that this value could exceed a total of $50bn by the year 2029.
These are seriously impressive numbers, and they clearly highlight just how lucrative the alcohol ecommerce sector is. According to research, 17% of alcohol buyers made online purchases in 2023, and this is a number we can expect to grow.
Key to this growth is the rapid development of online shopping services. In the past, customers would have had to wait several days for products online to be delivered. Things couldn’t be more different today; next-day delivery is fast becoming the norm, especially on platforms like Amazon. What this means is that customers can expect goods to arrive within 24 hours of making an online purchase.
Underage Alcohol Sales
While online shopping has made it easier than ever for adults to purchase alcohol, unfortunately, it has also made it easier for children and young people to purchase alcohol products.
Research conducted in Scotland revealed that as much as 20% of surveyed under-18-year-olds had either attempted to buy alcohol online or had a friend who had attempted to buy alcohol online. Of this 20%, 38% reported that they were not asked to verify their age when attempting to make the purchase.
This is a serious issue. Not only does alcohol pose an obvious health risk to children and young people, but the sale of alcohol to underage customers can have serious implications for retailers.
What are the Risks?
The health risks associated with underage drinking are well documented. It can impact brain development, mental health and wellbeing and even lead to addiction issues. Furthermore, intoxication can increase the likelihood of injuries and accidents.
The sale of underage alcohol can also have negative ramifications for retailers. If a business is found to have sold alcohol to a customer under the age of 18, knowingly or otherwise, they could be faced with an unlimited fine or even a suspension of their alcohol licence. In addition, this could seriously harm brand reputation and make the business appear less trustworthy in the eyes of customers.
Age Verification is the Answer
How can online stores prevent underage alcohol sales? The answer is through age verification. By implementing a robust and effective age verification system, retailers can ensure alcohol products are only being sold to customers over the legal age.
The AgeChecked verification solution is highly flexible. It can be seamlessly integrated into your platform, regardless of the size or scale of your operation. It can also be adapted to meet differing alcohol age-restriction laws around the world, making it the perfect choice for businesses that operate internationally.
Conclusion
Online alcohol sales are growing rapidly across the world. However, to take full advantage of this booming market, retailers must have age verification systems in place. Failure to do so can have serious consequences. AgeChecked is here to help; our software is the perfect solution for businesses that sell alcohol and other age-restricted products.
