72% of U.S. Mothers Fear Liquor DtC Will Increase Underage Access to Alcohol

Seventy-two percent of American mothers surveyed said they were concerned that direct-to-consumer shipper of liquor/spirits across state lines will increase underage access to alcohol.  

The survey was conducted by Morning Consult for WSWA Educational Foundation.  Bills to permit DtC shipping of spirits to consumers are expected to be considered by Texas and New York legislators next year.  Seventy three percent of mothers in each of those states expressed concern.

There was near unanimous agreement (91%) that underage drinking is important for lawmakers to consider when deciding alcohol laws and regulations, with a majority (73%) considering this "extremely important."

"Regardless of geographic or partisan differences, mothers across the country agree on one thing quite strongly — the health and safety of the public needs to be at the forefront when considering laws and regulations about the sale and distribution of alcohol," said Morning Consult's Food and Beverage Analyst Emily Moquin.  "Particularly, a majority of mothers are concerned that the DTC shipping of spirits will increase underage access and access to dangerous counterfeit product."

The survey also found that two-thirds (68%) of American mothers¹ think their state is regulating alcohol production and sales "about right." In fact, American mothers are three times as likely to say the current three-tier system is working well than not working well.

Furthermore, a strong majority (78%) of American mothers³ recognizes the importance of alcohol distributors when it comes to the sale of alcohol as it relates to public health and safety. Again, these findings were true for both New York and Texan mothers despite geographic, cultural, and partisan differences.

• 80% of Texan mothers feel alcohol distributors are important when it comes the sale of alcohol.
• 78% of New York mothers feel alcohol distributors are important when it comes the sale of alcohol.

Mothers surveyed were more likely to say that ID checks with DTC alcohol shipments — like those proposed for delivery through the United States Postal Service (USPS) or common carriers like UPS or FedEx — are less effective than ID checks done in stores or through local, licensed delivery.

WSWA has long championed local delivery from alcohol licensees, with delivery executed by their employee or a licensed third-party delivery company with ID-check training. WSWA advocates that the delivery person must conduct legal-drinking-age verification and provide beverages in safe, sealed containers with proper labeling.