Government implementing stricter age checks for online alcohol sales

By the end of next year, age verification for online alcohol sales must become stricter. Outgoing State Secretary Judith Tielen (Prevention, VVD) expects to publish the new regulations for public consultation in the coming months, allowing people to give their input.

She also wants to make changes to alcohol laws in the autumn which would make delivery drivers responsible for age verification when delivering alcohol.

Many underage people are still able to purchase alcohol online, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) noticed during research into the subject last year. Anyone under 18 has not been able to purchase alcohol since 2014.

The NVWA’s investigation last year showed that online stores often fail to properly verify the age of customers, particularly at the point of delivery. In many cases, delivery drivers did not ask for ID or handed over packages even when it was clear that the recipient was underage.`

Tielen said that stricter enforcement and shared responsibility in the supply chain are necessary to close these loopholes. “If a web shop sells alcohol to a minor, and the delivery person doesn’t check ID, the system fails at both ends,” she said earlier.

In the long term, the government is also considering digital solutions, such as requiring age verification through secure login systems like DigiD or iDIN at the point of purchase.

The move is part of the broader National Prevention Agreement, which aims to reduce problematic alcohol use and protect young people’s health.