Online sale and rapid delivery makes alcohol more accessible at home – the most common place for people to use alcohol.
This increases alcohol harms in the home, such as self-harm and family violence.
A FARE survey showed rapid delivery within two hours is associated with risky drinking – with 38 per cent of people drinking more than 11 standard drinks on the day of delivery.
There are studies suggesting delivery is used to extend drinking sessions and people report receiving deliveries while intoxicated.
Studies have also found alcohol companies do not consistently verify age when selling and delivering alcohol, sometimes leaving deliveries at the door.
Poor checks and balances mean alcohol could be delivered to people who are intoxicated and people underage.
So many Australians have experienced harm from alcohol sold on digital apps and delivered in as little as 20 minutes, without proper checks and balances. If you’d like to share your experiences, please get in touch.
Alcohol companies have a responsibility not to cause harm to our communities.
But laws across Australia haven’t kept pace with the changing ways alcohol companies do business. Alcohol companies have been taking advantage of these loopholes.
South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia have been the first to take action on this, introducing targeted laws to reduce harm.
It’s time for the rest of Australia to follow suit – updating community protections to match how alcohol is now marketed and sold.
We need the following common-sense measures:
Every day we are bombarded with alcohol advertising. Have you experienced alcohol advertising online? Share how this has affected you, your family or your community.
FARE has partnered with The University of Queensland to undertake a three-year study to better understand how young people are targeted by alcohol companies via social media. The study is using novel computational and machine learning methods to collect and analyse alcohol marketing from more than 480 alcohol pages on social media. The research is supported by an Australian Research Council Linkage Project grant.
FARE is a partner on the #DigitalYouth project being led by the Global Obesity Centre (GLOBE) and the Institute for Health Transformation. The research will use novel methods to develop the first thorough snapshot of youth exposure and engagement with digital marketing in Australia. The research is supported with a grant from The Ian Potter Foundation.
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.
The way alcohol is sold and marketed has changed, bringing heightened risk of harm while our regulatory system fails to keep pace.
New research has found online alcohol sales and advertising are exposing Australians to increased harm – especially people most at risk – while current laws fail to keep pace with the digital environment.
Australians deserve to have a say in the role that alcohol plays in their lives and communities.
At FARE, we want to amplify community voices about the impact of alcohol, to make sure people are put first when it comes to decisions that affect their health.
With your support, local advocates and grassroots organisations can create the change they want to see in their communities.
FARE acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters on which we operate throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the continuing connection to country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
©2025 FARE
Privacy Statement
T&C
FARE acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters on which we operate throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the continuing connection to country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
©2025 FARE
Privacy Statement
T&C
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