OBJECTIVE: With same day online alcohol sales increasing, there is a need to study their regulation. Test purchasing of alcohol home delivery was conducted to measure compliance with regulations for identification checks and unattended deliveries in two Australian jurisdictions (Perth, Western Australia and Geelong, Victoria), which have differing regulations.
METHODS: Alcohol orders for same day or rapid (<2 hours) delivery on Friday and Saturday nights were made by research assistants aged 18-24 years in Perth (n=34) and Geelong (n=29). An observation checklist was used to record the delivery interaction, with a specific focus on checking of photo identification at time of delivery and whether deliveries were left unattended.
RESULTS: Average time from order to delivery for rapid deliveries was less than one hour in both sites (Perth = 50 minutes; Geelong = 36 minutes). More than 20% of deliveries were made without an identification check in both sites (Perth = 24%; Geelong = 21%).
CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study showed alcohol can be delivered to the home within one hour, and not all deliveries include an identification check at point of delivery. These findings indicate a need for policies that empower regulators and police to undertake \'mystery shopper\' monitoring to reduce potential harms and improve compliance with alcohol delivery policy.

Alcohol delivery and to-go sales may contribute to changes in drinking patterns, including where and what people drink. This study tested whether home delivery and to-go alcohol purchases were associated with context- and beverage-specific consumption volumes during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic after adjusting for pre-pandemic consumption volumes.
Data from a pre-pandemic panel were compared to a during-pandemic panel of the National Alcohol Survey (n = 1,150 adult drinkers, 52.7% female). Outcomes were past-year alcohol consumption volumes in standard drinks (overall, by beverage type, and by location). Independent variables included past-year alcohol delivery and to-go purchases (separately). Covariates comprised baseline beverage- or context-specific volume, demographics, COVID-19 impacts, and drinking motivations. Negative binomial regression tested associations between alcohol purchases and change in overall, beverage-, and context-specific consumption.
On average, respondents who had alcohol delivered (vs. not) reported consuming larger volumes overall (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.58, 95% CI [1.07, 2.32], p = .02), of wine (IRR = 2.90, 95% CI [1.50, 5.63], p < .04), of spirits (IRR = 1.59, 95% CI [1.03, 2.44], p = .04), and at home (IRR = 1.59, 95% CI [1.10, 2.31], p = .01). People who bought alcohol to go (vs. not) reported larger volumes of wine (IRR = 1.41, 95% CI [1.02, 1.96], p = .04), at home (IRR = 1.60, 95% CI [1.10, 2.32], p = .01), and in bars (IRR = 4.55, 95% CI [2.55, 8.11], p < .001). Finally, people who had alcohol delivered reported drinking smaller volumes in bars (IRR = 0.49, 95% CI [0.24, 0.98], p = .04).
During the first year of the pandemic, adults who had alcohol delivered or bought it to go reported larger volumes for several locations and beverage types.

Background: Alcohol consumption in the U.S. is a public health problem that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Relatedly, many states have responded to COVID-19 by relaxing their alcohol laws, making it possible for adults to have alcohol delivered to their homes. This study sought to understand the impact of allowing alcohol home delivery on self-reported adult alcohol consumption in the US. Methods: In May 2020, we surveyed a convenience sample of U.S. adults over 21 years of age recruited through social media and listservs. Eight hundred and thirty-two participants completed the online survey: 84% were female, 85% were White, and 72% were between the ages of 26 and 49. Results: Twenty-one percent of participants who consumed alcohol in the past month had at least some alcohol delivered, with 60% having it delivered from liquor stores, restaurants, or bars. The remainder of the participants purchased the alcohol in-person or owned it pre-COVID-19. Participants who reported having alcohol delivered also reported consuming more drinks (β = 13.3; 95% CI [8.2, 18.4]; p < .000) and drinking on more days (β = 5.0; 95% CI [2.9, 7.0]; p < .000) over the past month than participants who obtained alcohol through other methods. Participants who had alcohol delivered were nearly two times more likely to report engaging in binge drinking than those who obtained alcohol through other methods (OR = 1.96; 95% CI [1.3, 3.1]; p = .003). Conclusions: Obtaining alcohol through home delivery was associated with greater alcohol consumption including binge drinking. As states consider permanently allowing alcohol home delivery, it is important to consider the potential public health implications.