Online Age-Checking for Retail Wine and Spirits

A recent study for the World Heath Organisation found that teenage girls across the UK are in the top 6 for a European league table measuring binge drinking. Mark Leyston of the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) suggests that the figures and heavily influenced by the growth in online shopping across the UK. He states:

“Alcohol sales online seem to be a blind spot for the major supermarkets in terms of preventing underage access.”

Online Age Checks Lag Behind Store Age Verification

Physical age verification in supermarkets has seen a good adoption rate, and significant success in the reduction of alcohol sales to underage buyers. Online age checks don’t seem to have achieved the same level of take-up, however. A survey carried out by Alcohol Concern in Wales discovered that 15% of the 14-17 year olds surveyed had found it easy to circumvent age verification, buy alcohol online and have it delivered to their home.

The Legal Restrictions on Selling Alcohol

It is illegal to sell alcohol – online or off – to anyone under the age of 18, and anyone found to be doing so is liable to an unlimited fine. The enforcement of alcohol sales currently falls under the jurisdiction of the Police and the Trading Standards Institute. The CTSI is currently offering detailed guidance on this issue, reminding online traders of the necessity of having effective age checking processes in place.

Age Checking is Crucial as the Market Expands

There are no signs that the online groceries market will slow down, so fit-for-purpose online age checks will become ever more important. AgeChecked considers the protection of young people online is one of the highest priorities we need to address as a society. To this end, the AgeChecked software for age verification has been designed of provide a simple, seamless and trustworthy age check for online sales of wine and spirits.

How Does AgeChecked Software Work?

Online buyers attempting to purchase alcohol are asked to provide age verification, using documentation chosen from a list of options. Once the documentation has been has been checked and verified the sale can proceed. Subsequently online shoppers will be able to prove their age using their AgeChecked password.