The South Australian Government is currently considering a draft Bill that will help bring Liquor Licensing legislation in South Australia up to speed with the way that alcohol is now sold.
The emergence of the online sale of alcohol for delivery to homes means alcohol is more available and there is heightened risk of harm to our community.
Harm is particularly heightened when alcohol is delivered rapidly to homes at all hours of the day, without the usual checks and balances that are in place when alcohol is sold in a physical store.
Our new research, published today, found that one in three people who used alcohol in the past year had alcohol delivered to their home – and nearly 40% of these people received it within two hours.
It is particularly concerning that people who are likely experiencing alcohol dependency were twice as likely to have alcohol sold to them online for rapid delivery into their home than people at low risk.
Previous research has shown that the online sale and rapid delivery of alcohol increases high-risk alcohol use and related harms.
The risks of un-checked delivery of alcohol to the home have also been brought to light during investigated instances that found alcohol delivery played a role in alcohol-related deaths. Alcohol delivery company Jimmy Brings was investigated after delivering three bottles of wine a day to a Sydney man in the weeks leading to his death.
The Victorian Coroner Ingrid Giles identified that alcohol companies delivered over 300 alcohol products to Kathleen Arnold’s home in the six months leading to her death.
The role of un-checked delivery of alcohol into the home in exacerbating violence towards women and children has also been highlighted, most recently with the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence recommending restrictions to the online sale and delivery of alcohol as a measure for reducing domestic violence in South Australia.
Online sale and rapid delivery of alcohol is currently encouraged through online alcohol promotions.
Our research also found that almost a quarter of people indicated that they bought alcohol online after seeing an online advertisement.
People likely experiencing alcohol dependency were also more likely impacted by this online advertising with almost 30% indicating they bought alcohol online after seeing an online advertisement.
This is compounded by the design of digital advertising, which has now reduced the space between exposure to alcohol advertising and the sale and use of alcohol.
One way this happens, is through direct links on advertisements, such as through ‘buy now’ buttons that directly link to platforms where alcohol is sold.
Our research found half of people likely experiencing alcohol dependency had clicked through a button of an online advertisement to buy alcohol – this is double that than people at low risk.
Decision makers can no longer delay action to bring liquor laws up to speed with how alcohol is now sold and marketed in Australia, with the harms glaringly evident and strong community backing for safeguards.
Right now, South Australia can lead the way, with their draft Bill soon to go before Parliament.
The draft Bill aligns with the recommendations from the South Australian Royal Commission into domestic, family and sexual violence to implement a 2-hour safety pause between order and delivery, amending delivery times to 10am – 10pm and ensuring that harm minimisation is a paramount objective of liquor laws.
Now, the South Australian government must stand strong against vested interests of alcohol company lobbying and put the community’s health and wellbeing first.
Funding statement: This research was funded by an Australian Research Council Early Career Industry Fellowship (project number: IE230100647).
