On-demand food delivery apps are letting minors order alcohol, regulators say

On-demand food delivery apps are letting minors order alcohol, regulators say

A new investigation by the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) found that food and beverage delivery services such as DoorDash, Postmates, and Uber Eats were found in California to reduce alcohol to minors last month. Regulators say that because of restriction around alcohol takeout and delivery during COVID-19, the problem is getting worse.

The findings of the investigation, posted as an industry consultant on ABC's website, say "the department's recent enforcement actions have shown that third-party delivery services are regularly distributing alcoholic beverages to minors," and that " Many licensees, and those who use delivery., Have failed to comply with many other legal obligations. ”Once in the state, two-cocktails and other forms of alcohol in March After allowing the sale and distribution due to "" a significant increase in deliveries is being expanded position by the epidemic.

The investigation was initiated by an April article from The Washington Post, which first reported on the findings of the investigation on Friday, stating that Uber Eats customers could easily go for delivery during the COVID-19 epidemic Can order alcohol, without having to show proper age. Verification. DoorDash, Postmates, and Uber did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Post, in its test of alcohol delivery through on-demand apps in California, found that some drivers gave up drinks without interacting with customers and the app allowed alcoholic drinks to be ordered without food, which was an alcoholic Nearby is against state regulations. Beverage Delivery. The issue is a pressing one for both on-demand apps and the restaurants they serve, as both can be held criminally liable for selling and distributing alcohol to minors, The Post reports.

California regulators say the fault lies mostly with on-demand delivery services, as those platforms and their drivers often fail to properly ID customers and follow other state regulations. In the case of Uber Eats, which does not officially allow the sale of alcohol and therefore the app does not have a built-in ID check mechanism, some participating restaurants were selling alcohol anyway, and doing so checked the age of the customer without. Delivery. DoorDash and Postmates have ID checks built into their app as both officially support alcohol sales, but regulators say those guidelines are often ignored by delivery drivers.

“The department has recently taken enforcement action across the state and found significant violations of the law. Most concerning is that minors can purchase alcohol through regular restaurant deliveries, ”the consultant reads. "There are instances in which the licensee's own employees have done so, but a far higher rate is apparent among third-party delivery services. Licensees are responsible for these illegal deliveries, and the department reviews the practices of these services to licensees Encourages doing and aligned with them. "

Regulators say DoorDash, Uber, and Postmates - which announce to name it directly, but are the premier food and beverage distribution app in California - have guidelines to protect minors from delivering alcohol. "But those guidelines are largely being ignored by delivery personnel," the consultant reads.

In its investigation, ABC officials ordered approximately 200 alcohol-containing beverages throughout several weekends, using both on-demand apps and personal restaurant and bar delivery services, and it reported under-21s Decoy has been used as the recipient in some cases, which is the Post Report. Restaurants and bars illegally provided minors with alcohol about one in every four deliveries on trial, or a failure rate of 25 percent, while on-demand apps showed failure rates of four or 80 percent out of every five Shocked.

ABC says it initially saw failure rates of on-demand apps improve after contacting companies, but half of all deliveries to minors are still slipping through post reports. ABC cannot approve the companies themselves, so further action may be involved following the driver or restaurant, and ABC is warning Uber and other platforms that it may have to do so if the situation continues.