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Her sister is now calling for a change in the law
A woman is campaigning for a ban on alcohol being sold via delivery apps after her sister spent up to £1,500 a month on booze driven straight to her home before her tragic death. Alexandria Hughes, 31, has launched a petition calling for safeguards on apps like Just Eat, Deliveroo, and Uber Eats to prevent vulnerable people from accessing ‘dangerous amounts of alcohol’.
Zoe Hughes, 35, from Lincoln, had struggled with alcoholism for several years as a way to cope with personal issues, Alexandria said. After she was found dead in her home on July 24, 2023, Alexandria was shocked by what she found when she sorted through her sister’s affairs.
She said she discovered she was spending over £1,000 each month on alcohol through doorstep delivery platforms, unbeknownst to her family. Alexandria, an NHS cancer navigator, said her “battle with alcoholism was exacerbated by the easy and unchecked access to alcohol”.
She also discovered information on her sister’s phone that delivery drivers had allegedly “misused her contact information taken from the delivery orders to send her unsolicited messages, gifts, and even love notes”, her petition says. Devastated Alexandria, also from Lincoln, Lincolnshire, is calling on the government to implement a ban on delivery services selling alcohol, or introduce robust monitoring systems and strict regulations.
“Over three to four years, she went from being drink-dependent to a full-blown alcoholic, in between therapies and rehabs,” said Alexandria. Just Eat’s own terms say they shouldn’t hand over alcohol to someone who is drunk.
“There’s no process to monitor this. Alcohol is everywhere, but now it can be delivered straight to your door. If you’re intoxicated in a pub, you wouldn’t be served – so why are delivery apps allowed to do this?”
Alexandria says Zoe’s issues began as “a casual drink” before it “spiralled out of control”. By December 2022, Zoe’s drinking had escalated dramatically, she said.
Over the next seven months, she reportedly spent around £1,000 to £1,500 a month ordering alcohol and cigarettes online. Tragically, Zoe was found at the bottom of her stairs July 24, 2023 and her death was recorded as misadventure.
She said Zoe’s phone revealed delivery drivers were contacting her with “unsolicited messages” and “exploiting her vulnerabilities”. Alexandria added: “This is a gross violation of her privacy and dignity.”
She said the platforms are convenient but can be a “dangerous tool for those fighting addiction”
Alexandria said the problem is compounded by a lack of support for addicts. “I know people begging to go to rehab, but they won’t help them because they can’t get a funded place,” she said. “So they’re left drinking at home.
“There’s nothing out there to assist them. Gamblers can get their accounts blocked, so why isn’t there an option to declare you’re an alcoholic on these apps, so you don’t get ads or offers? I mean its not like drug addicts, where you have to find a dealer and meet them. Alcohol is found on the shelves, even in garden centres. It is inescapable to the eye.”
Zoe’s addiction was accompanied by other health struggles. Alexandria added “Addictions often come hand in hand with mental health issues. Zoe also had bulimia and anorexia. It’s about controlling your body. People say it’s an escape, but it’s not always that simple.
Despite her struggles, Zoe was a devoted mother to her two children, she said. “I’m biased, but ask anyone around – she was genuinely the kindest parent,” she added. “Even in the depths of her alcoholism, she would never forget anything – birthdays, heartfelt messages. She loved her children with every ounce of her body, and all she ever wanted was to be happy.”
Alexandria hopes her petition will bring awareness and push for real change. She wants the government to implement a ban on door delivery drivers selling alcohol or alternatively, bring in strict regulations requiring age verification, purchase limits, and “robust monitoring systems to protect those most vulnerable”.
“The petition hasn’t been live long, but I’ve already had over 2,000 people sign it, and I’ve had dozens of messages from people wanting to help,” she said. “You wouldn’t be able to be served three or four bottles of wine at a pub. If you were intoxicated that badly you’d be kicked out. Why is it any different with delivery?
“This needs to happen, people want help, and it’s time someone acted.”
An Uber Eats spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear about these tragic events in 2023. The safety and wellbeing of our community is our priority and we have an ongoing partnership with Drinkaware to implement further alcohol safety measures, including clear signposting to support resources and the ability to restrict platform access for customers where necessary.
“To help ensure responsible consumption, every alcohol delivery requires the courier to confirm the recipient’s date of birth as per their physical ID and conduct a sobriety check before an order can be completed.”
