Ealing Council is tightening the rules for businesses that deliver alcohol, focusing on preventing public nuisance and protecting children.
The move comes as part of an updated Statement of Licensing Policy 2025, which was discussed at a Licensing Committee meeting on Wednesday, 8 October 2025. The updated policy introduces stronger requirements specifically for businesses offering online alcohol delivery services. While existing licensing objectives remain, the updated policy focuses on preventing public nuisance and harm to children related to these services.
To prevent public nuisance, the policy outlines several key measures that delivery services must implement. These include:
- Minimising noise and disturbance caused by the dispatch of deliveries and congregation of delivery drivers, to be identified in the operating schedule.
- Providing robust staff training manuals and codes of conduct to delivery drivers/riders.
- Using courier services that encourage drivers to use vehicles that are less likely to cause noise or air quality nuisances, for example, use of electric bikes or pedal bikes for late night deliveries.
In addition, the updated policy addresses concerns about underage drinking. Premises offering online alcohol delivery services are expected to detail in their operating schedules the arrangements they have in place to prevent the sale, supply, or delivery of alcohol to those underage, both at the purchase and delivery points. The Licensing Authority strongly recommends applicants and existing licence holders take into account the Safeguarding Children Policy for Licensed Premises.
