Online alcohol retailers will now have to review and adhere to a new set of standards guide put in place to minimize risks to consumers in the sale and delivery of alcohol online.
The standards have been developed to address the acceleration in the shift towards e-commerce in the sale and delivery of alcohol due to Covid-19.
Two companies operating in Kenya were among the coalition of organizations that worked to develop the global e-commerce standards.
The key developer of these standards is the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) that has recommended that online retailers verify the age of buyers and prevent deliveries to minors or intoxicated buyers under the new self-regulatory standards.
The first-ever standards were developed in partnership with 14 prominent global and regional online retailers, and e-commerce and delivery platforms.
The consortium further recommends that traders work with agents to educate drinkers as well as monitor the implementation of the standards.
IARD’s Chief Executive Officer, Henry Ashworth, said IARD is proud to have united the world’s leading drinks producers with leading online retailers and e-commerce platforms to enhance safeguards for the online sale and delivery of alcohol.
“The increase in e-commerce, home deliveries and consumption has spurred the expansion of the formats, and now more beers are available in cans, as well as partnerships with e-commerce platforms,” he said.
Other standards that were outlined in the document include improving safeguards and security measures in order to prevent minors from being able to buy alcohol, enhancing consumer information and control, and promoting global standards as a resource to support the development of national-level codes and practices for the online sale and delivery of alcohol.
“The e-commerce explosion has played a significant role in growing off-trade contributions and we realized early on the need for online retailers to adhere to certain standards. Minors should not drink alcohol and we have been working in partnership with online retailers and delivery platforms to improve safeguards to help prevent online alcohol sale and delivery to minors,” Kenya Breweries Limited Managing, Director John Musunga, said.
