Zoe Hughes, 35, from Lincoln, struggled with alcoholism for several years. Her sister Alexandria Hughes said Zoe was spending between £1,000 and £1,500 a month on alcohol through Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats. By December 2022, her drinking had escalated dramatically, and she was consuming between five and seven bottles of wine, gin or vodka a day before her death in 2023.
Zoe was found dead in her home on July 24, 2023. An inquest ruled her death was accidental, concluding she died as a consequence of injuries from an unwitnessed fall while under the influence of alcohol. The death was recorded as misadventure.
I want the sale of alcohol on apps to be banned or for the government to introduce safeguards like a cap on orders and a time stop.
According to BBC News, Alex Hughes wants the sale of alcohol on apps to be banned or for the government to introduce safeguards like a cap on orders and a time stop. She would also like to see a register similar to those used by gambling companies, where people who add their names are blocked from using apps. According to Daily Mirror - News, Alexandria Hughes described delivery platforms as a dangerous tool for those fighting addiction.
She noted that gamblers can get their accounts blocked, but there is no option to declare you're an alcoholic on delivery apps to avoid ads or offers. Delivery companies Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats say they operate within the law, are committed to responsible delivery, and customer accounts can be suspended or blocked if concerns are raised. They say they carry out age checks and drivers are instructed not to leave alcohol with people who appear to be drunk.
I would like to see a register similar to those used by gambling companies, where people who add their names are blocked from using apps.
Just Eat's own terms say they shouldn’t hand over alcohol to someone who is drunk, according to Alexandria Hughes. However, she said there is no process to monitor whether delivery apps hand over alcohol to intoxicated people. Alcohol Change UK is calling on the government to introduce more checks on people buying alcohol via delivery apps.
According to BBC News, Joe Marley, director of Alcohol Change UK, described the Licensing Act as not having kept up with reality. The Licensing Act 2003 regulates the sale and supply of alcohol and it is already an offence to sell alcohol to someone who is drunk. The government says it is looking at how licensing rules apply to rapid alcohol delivery services.
The Licensing Act hasn't kept up with reality.
Alexandria Hughes' petition also alleges that delivery drivers misused Zoe's contact information to send unsolicited messages, gifts, and love notes. She highlighted a lack of support for addicts, with people begging to go to rehab but unable to get funded places. It is not known what specific safeguards or monitoring systems delivery apps currently have in place to prevent sales to intoxicated individuals, beyond stated policies.
There is no data on how many other cases of alcohol-related harm have been linked to rapid delivery services. The government has not provided a timeline for reviewing licensing rules, and it is unclear what specific changes are being considered. It is also unknown whether any of the delivery companies took action on Zoe's account prior to her death, given the high volume and frequency of orders.
Delivery platforms can be a dangerous tool for those fighting addiction.
The legal liability of delivery platforms when alcohol sold through their service contributes to a death remains uncertain.