The rise of online alcohol sales has transformed how consumers purchase alcoholic beverages. What began as a convenience during the COVID-19 pandemic has become a permanent part of the retail landscape in many states. But a recent study raises an important question: Are retailers properly verifying age when alcohol is ordered online?
The Problem
Underage drinking remains a significant public health concern. Alcohol use among youth is linked to increased injuries, impaired judgment, academic difficulties, and a higher risk of developing alcohol use disorders later in life.
As states expanded alcohol-to-go and delivery options during the pandemic, researchers sought to understand whether age-verification practices kept pace with these changes.
What the Study Examined
Researchers analyzed 352 online alcohol purchases in Texas between 2022 and 2024. They tracked whether customers were asked to present a state-issued ID when picking up or receiving alcohol ordered through websites or mobile apps. The study also included focus groups with delivery drivers and retail staff.
Key Finding: Most Orders Did Not Require ID Verification
The results were striking.
Researchers found an overall ID-check failure rate of 64.8%, meaning that nearly two-thirds of online alcohol orders were completed without verifying a state-issued identification.
In some cases, alcohol was simply left at the door or handed to the customer without any age verification.
Delivery Method Matters
Age-verification compliance varied significantly depending on how the customer received the order.
- Third-party delivery: 26.7% ID check failure rate.
- Curbside pickup: 74.0% ID check failure rate.
- Drive-thru pickup: 85.7% ID check failure rate.
- Walk-in pickup: 90.0% ID check failure rate.
The best-performing option was third-party delivery, while walk-in pickups had the highest failure rate.
Why Third-Party Delivery Performed Better
Focus groups revealed that delivery platforms such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Instacart often use technology that prompts drivers to verify identification before completing a delivery. Some systems can even scan IDs using a smartphone.
Delivery drivers also reported receiving alcohol-specific training and understood that failing to verify age could carry legal consequences.
By contrast, restaurant and grocery store staff frequently relied on visual checks alone, and employees reported inconsistent procedures regarding who was responsible for verifying identification.
Rural Communities Face Additional Challenges
The study found that compliance was significantly lower in rural areas.
- Rural ID-check failure rate: 90.6%
- Non-rural ID-check failure rate: 41.9%
Researchers suggest that limited staffing, inconsistent procedures, and technology challenges may contribute to these differences.
Recommendations
To improve compliance and reduce youth access to alcohol, the researchers recommend:
- Requiring electronic ID verification for all alcohol deliveries.
- Eliminating manual overrides that allow workers to bypass age checks.
- Ensuring only trained and certified staff handle alcohol-to-go orders.
- Increasing compliance checks by state alcohol control agencies.
- Reconsidering high-risk pickup methods such as drive-thru alcohol distribution.
Bottom Line
Online alcohol sales are here to stay, but age-verification practices may not be keeping pace. This study found widespread failures in checking identification, particularly for pickup orders and in rural areas. Strengthening technology, training, and enforcement could help ensure that alcohol purchased online ends up only in the hands of those legally old enough to buy it.
Source: Barrington, K.D., Holt, N.L., & Nitibhon, A. (2025). Alcohol Access: State-identification Check Failure Rates in the Age of E-commerce. Health Behavior and Policy Review.
