Lincoln Woman Spent £1,500 Monthly on Delivery App Alcohol Before Fatal Fall
A campaign for stricter controls on alcohol sales via food delivery applications has gained momentum following the death of Zoe Hughes, 35, who her sister Alex Hughes claims spent between £1,000 and £1,500 monthly on alcohol from services such as Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats.
Ms Hughes died in 2023 after sustaining fatal injuries in a fall down stairs at her Lincoln home. An inquest concluded her death was accidental, resulting from an “unwitnessed fall whilst under the influence of alcohol.” Alex Hughes initiated a petition advocating for a ban or significant safeguards on these delivery services, highlighting that her sister could order alcohol as early as 06:00 and receive deliveries within 20 minutes.
Alcohol Change UK, the charity behind Dry January, is pressing the government to introduce more robust checks on purchasers and to reconsider existing regulations, which they argue have not kept pace with the proliferation of rapid alcohol delivery. Joe Marley, director of Alcohol Change UK, stated the current Licensing Act 2003, while prohibiting sales to intoxicated individuals, is outdated.
Delivery companies assert they operate within legal frameworks, claiming drivers are trained to perform age and sobriety checks and to refuse deliveries if a customer appears intoxicated. They also state policies exist to suspend or block accounts when welfare concerns are raised.
Hattie Underwood, a recovering alcoholic and advocate for Alcohol Change UK, recounted her own reliance on delivery apps, noting they removed “all the barriers” to accessing alcohol. Daniel Dobbs, a coach for the Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership, echoed calls for safeguarding measures that protect vulnerable individuals, provided they do not infringe on personal choice.
The government acknowledged concerns regarding rapid online alcohol delivery contributing to “increased alcohol harm” and “drinking issues going unseen.” Officials confirmed they are examining how current licensing rules apply to these services and are collaborating with experts to ensure effective safeguards.