'The convenience is a double-edged sword': Qualitative interviews with people who use online alcohol delivery services.

INTRODUCTION: The past decade has seen a shift towards online purchasing and home delivery of alcohol, with this trend accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, research in this area is limited. This study aims to explore how and why people use online alcohol delivery services. METHODS: Semi-structured qualitative interviews (mean = 12.5 min; range = 7-19.5 min) with a convenience sample of 40 Australians ≥18 years who purchase alcohol online for delivery at least once per month. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse and report the data. RESULTS: Three themes were generated. (i) The convenience is a 'double-edged sword': almost all participants expressed that they use alcohol delivery services because they reduce difficulty in obtaining alcohol by saving time or energy/effort; however, for some this could lead them to purchase and consume more alcohol than they otherwise would have. (ii) Cost savings motivate online purchases: some participants expressed that they could access alcohol more cheaply online than in-store due to promotions, cost-comparisons and the ability to shop at low-cost outlets. (iii) Initiating or increasing use during the COVID-19 pandemic: for some people continued or increased use had been maintained as they had grown accustomed to the convenience or changed shopping habits. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Participants purchased alcohol online for home delivery primarily for convenience; however, for some the convenience could lead them to purchase and consume more alcohol than they otherwise would have. Targeted improvements to the regulation of these services are needed to minimise the risks they may pose for alcohol harm.

Cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of Australians who use alcohol home delivery services.

INTRODUCTION: Online alcohol purchasing and home delivery has increased in recent years, accelerated by the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This article aims to investigate the purchasing and drinking behaviour of Australians who use online alcohol delivery services. METHOD: A cross-sectional self-report survey with a convenience sample of 1158 Australians ≥18 years (49.3% female) who used an online alcohol delivery service in the past 3 months, recruited through paid social media advertisements from September to November 2021. Quota sampling was used to obtain a sample with age and gender strata proportional to the Australian adult population. Descriptive statistics were generated and logistic regression used to explore variables that predict hazardous/harmful drinking (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score ≥8). RESULTS: One-in-five (20.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 17.8-22.5) participants had used an alcohol delivery service to extend a home drinking session because they had run out of alcohol and wanted to continue drinking and, of these, one-third (33.9%, 95% CI 27.9-40.4) indicated that if the service was not available they would have stopped drinking. Using delivery services in this way was associated with six times higher odds of drinking at hazardous/harmful levels (odds ratio 6.26, 95% CI 3.78-10.36). Participants ≤25 years were significantly more likely to report never having their identification verified when receiving their alcohol delivery at the door compared with purchasing takeaway alcohol in-person at a bottle shop (p < 0.001, McNemar). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Given the risks associated with alcohol delivery, regulation of these services should be improved to meet the same standards as bricks-and-mortar bottle shops.

You've got mail: Drinks are on sale! A study to assess volume and content of direct marketing received from online alcohol retailers in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Customers of online alcohol retailers are exposed to marketing displayed on alcohol retailers' websites and may also receive direct marketing via email and text message once contact details are provided in an online sale. To date, this direct marketing activity from online alcohol retailers has not been studied. This study aims to document the quantity and content of marketing material received by customers of online alcohol retailers in Australia, and whether the material complies with relevant regulation. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of direct marketing from the 100 most popular online alcohol retailers in Australia. Marketing material received via email and text message was collected for three-months from March to June 2021. Email and text messages were coded for 17 variables in four categories: primary purpose of the communication; compliance with relevant regulations; marketing themes and practices used; and offers, promotions, and discounts. RESULTS: We received 1496 emails from 85 of the 100 retailers. Of the retailers who sent emails, the number sent varied widely (Mdn=8; IQR=2-21). Seven retailers sent a total of 18 text messages. The primary purpose of most emails (67.4%) was to advertise a special or offer a discount. Almost all emails (98.6%) complied with spam legislation to include an unsubscribe link, but around half (46.5%) of emails from retailers in jurisdictions where the inclusion of a liquor license number is mandatory, failed to include one. The most common marketing theme was to link specific times or events to drinking (18.8%). Almost half (48.5%) of emails advertised free or discounted delivery for purchasing over a specified threshold. CONCLUSION: Most online alcohol retailers in Australia are engaging in direct marketing to their customers via email. More research is needed to understand how these emails may influence purchasing and consumption.

Online alcohol sales and home delivery: An international policy review and systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: Online alcohol sales are experiencing rapid growth in many places, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting new laws and regulations. There are no comprehensive and systematic analyses of the laws or their effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: To summarise international policies governing online alcohol sale and delivery, including changes occurring with COVID-19, and examine available evidence of retailer compliance with such policies. METHOD: A policy review of 77 jurisdictions in six English-speaking OECD countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. We synthesised policies according to ten elements identified as potentially relevant for public health regulation. A systematic literature review of compliance evaluations in Medline, Medline Epub, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science and Google Scholar. RESULTS: 72 of 77 jurisdictions permitted online alcohol sales and home delivery. Few jurisdictions require age verification at the time of purchase (n = 7), but most require it at delivery (n = 71). Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, most jurisdictions (69%) have either temporarily or permanently relaxed liquor regulations for alcohol home delivery. Three articles examined retailer compliance with age restrictions and found relatively low compliance (0%-46%). CONCLUSION: Many jurisdictions permit the online sale and delivery of alcohol, but regulation of these sales varies widely. In most, regulations do not meet the same standard as bricks-and-mortar establishments and may be insufficient to prevent youth access.

Smartphone apps for managing alcohol consumption: a literature review.

BACKGROUND: Smartphone applications (apps) designed to assist users to reduce hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption show potential as an inexpensive alternative to traditional brief intervention in primary care. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the literature on alcohol reduction apps and the availability of evidenced-based apps on top commercial app stores. METHODS: We reviewed literature through to December 2019 using the databases PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Google Scholar and keyword search terms smartphone/mobile/phone AND application/app AND alcohol. Articles were included if the primary intervention was a smartphone app and the study measured participant changes in frequency or volume of alcohol consumption. RESULTS: 21 relevant articles were identified that evaluated 19 unique smartphone apps. Of the 19 unique apps, seven were designed for use among youth and 12 in adult populations. The available evidence for the efficacy of alcohol reduction apps among youth is inconclusive, with results from these evaluations not showing a clear benefit in reducing alcohol consumption compared to control groups. The results of apps designed for adult populations appears more promising, but results are still mixed. Of the 19 alcohol reduction apps that have been evaluated only eight of these are currently publicly available in commercial app stores. Of these eight apps, only four were demonstrated in the literature to assist with reducing alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION: The evidence for alcohol reduction apps is promising but inconclusive. Few apps that have been evaluated in the scientific literature are currently available for download in commercial app stores.

Content analysis of websites selling alcohol online in Australia.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Online alcohol sales have experienced rapid growth in Australia in recent years, averaging 14% annual growth over the last 5 years. This study aims to provide information about the advertised sales and delivery practices of online alcohol retailers in Australia and the potential implications for alcohol-related harm. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional website content analysis of the 65 most visited Australian alcohol delivery websites. Data extracted for content analysis from each of the included websites fell under six broad categories: product range; average prices; promotions and discounting; payment and delivery; age verification methods; and policy statements. RESULTS: Online alcohol retailers offer a variety of alcohol products cheaply, with around 20% selling a 750 mL bottle of wine for under AUD$5. Most (81.5%) offered discounts for purchasing greater quantities and (89.2%) offered visitors an opportunity to sign up to receive discounts and promotions directly via email. Concerningly, 13.8% of websites allowed customers to purchase alcohol using a 'buy now, pay later' scheme such as AfterPay or Zip Pay. Delivery in under two hours was available from 12% of retailers. Most retailers (75.4%) advertised a willingness to leave alcohol unattended at an address. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Online alcohol retailers offer a variety of alcohol products cheaply, accompanied by heavy promotions and discounting. Most retailers advertise a willingness to leave alcohol unattended at an address without having verified the purchasers age, which raises concerns about access to minors. Improved regulation of this growing industry in Australia is required. [Colbert S, Thornton L, Richmond R. Content analysis of websites selling alcohol online in Australia. Drug Alcohol Rev 2020].