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Concern over teenagers buying alcohol via online shopping | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Young people are increasingly using online supermarket delivery services to buy alcohol, figures show. | |
A total of 21% of 14-15 year olds questioned for the Alcohol Concern Cymru Wales-wide survey said they had bought alcohol online. | |
The charity surveyed nearly 1,000 teenagers aged 14-17. | |
Calls for procedures to be toughened have been made but retailers have said they take their responsibilities seriously. | |
The Alcohol Concern Cymru survey found that 15% of all respondents said they had successfully bought alcohol online while 7% had tried to buy alcohol online but were unsuccessful. | |
Mark Leyshon, policy and research officer for Alcohol Concern Cymru, said young people regarded internet shopping as an "easy" way to buy alcohol. | Mark Leyshon, policy and research officer for Alcohol Concern Cymru, said young people regarded internet shopping as an "easy" way to buy alcohol. |
"Retailers offering home delivery services need to toughen up their processes to ensure that children and young people are prevented from accessing alcohol through this channel," he said. | "Retailers offering home delivery services need to toughen up their processes to ensure that children and young people are prevented from accessing alcohol through this channel," he said. |
"Young people have told us that these sites offer less robust age verification practices and provide a quick and easy way to get hold of alcohol, especially for younger teenagers who would likely have greater difficulty in buying alcohol in person from in-store at a supermarket or off-licence." | "Young people have told us that these sites offer less robust age verification practices and provide a quick and easy way to get hold of alcohol, especially for younger teenagers who would likely have greater difficulty in buying alcohol in person from in-store at a supermarket or off-licence." |
Commenting on the findings, Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, a former president of the independent health education group the Royal Society of Medicine, said: "It's clearly worrying that children and young people in Wales may be able to access alcohol in this way. | Commenting on the findings, Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, a former president of the independent health education group the Royal Society of Medicine, said: "It's clearly worrying that children and young people in Wales may be able to access alcohol in this way. |
"Alcohol retailers need to improve their procedures to ensure that alcohol is sold and delivered to adults only." | "Alcohol retailers need to improve their procedures to ensure that alcohol is sold and delivered to adults only." |
John Munro, director of the Welsh Retail Consortium which represents suppliers, told BBC Radio Wales that members took their responsibility seriously and that staff were given the correct training. | John Munro, director of the Welsh Retail Consortium which represents suppliers, told BBC Radio Wales that members took their responsibility seriously and that staff were given the correct training. |
He said any instances of a lapse in procedure, although small, should be reported so issues can be addressed by the organisations concerned. | He said any instances of a lapse in procedure, although small, should be reported so issues can be addressed by the organisations concerned. |
"Members take their obligations not to sell to under-age purchasers very seriously," said Mr Munro. | |
"There are robust systems in place for age-restricted products purchased online, and delivery drivers are trained to ask for ID if they have good reason to believe that age is an issue. | |
"However, issues occasionally arise as banks are unwilling to identify people under 18 on credit or debit cards, which would be the easiest way of restricting purchases online. | |
"Parents also have some responsibility for the way in which their own cards are used by their children." | |
Test purchases | |
Meanwhile, four out of nine under-age test purchasers working with police in Cardiff bought and received alcohol online in March. | |
Scott Lloyd, licensing sergeant with South Wales Police, said he was "disappointed" with the findings of the test purchases operation in Cardiff using 15-year-old buyers. | |
In four of the nine cases (44%), alcohol was handed to the underage test purchasers by delivery drivers with no proof of age requested after agreeing to online terms and conditions when making the purchases. |
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