If nobody aged 18 or over is there, an alcohol delivery cannot be left on the doorstep, in a porch or with a child. The driver will try to contact you using the phone number on the order. If they cannot reach you, Drinks House 247 returns the order and the team will help you arrange another delivery.
With parcels, a missed delivery usually means a card through the door and a trip to a neighbour or a locker. Alcohol is different. Because of the law on age verification, it has to be handed to an adult in person, which changes what happens when nobody answers the door.
In the UK it is an offence to sell alcohol to anyone under 18, and that responsibility continues until the order is in an adult's hands. If a driver leaves a bottle unattended, there is no way to know who picks it up. Drinks House 247 also operates a Challenge 25 policy, so anyone who looks under 25 is asked for photo ID before the order is handed over.
| Situation | Can the driver hand it over? |
|---|---|
| You are home and over 18 | Yes, with ID if you look under 25 |
| Another adult at the address, such as a partner or flatmate | Yes, if they are over 18 and can show ID if asked |
| A building concierge or reception desk | Usually, if the person accepting it is an adult and takes responsibility |
| Only someone under 18 is home | No |
| Nobody answers | No; it cannot be left in a porch, safe place or bin store |
| A neighbour offers to take it | Only if they are over 18, can show ID if asked, and you have agreed it |
| The person at the door appears intoxicated | The driver may refuse, as licensing law requires |
Contact the team using the details on our contact page as soon as you can, quoting your order number. They will help you arrange a new delivery time or explain your options. The sooner you get in touch, the easier it is to sort out.
Gift orders are the most likely to be missed, because the recipient may not know a delivery is coming. A few ways to avoid this:
Hotels and offices are often easier because someone is always at the front desk, though hotel policies on alcohol for guests vary, so check first. For an Airbnb or short let, make sure the guest will be there in person to receive it; there is usually nobody else to accept it.
If the person at the door cannot show acceptable photo ID and looks under 25, the driver cannot hand over the order, even if the buyer is over 18. Acceptable ID includes a passport, a photocard driving licence, or a PASS-accredited proof-of-age card.
No. By law, alcohol must be handed to someone aged 18 or over. It cannot be left in a porch, safe place or with a child.
Only if they are over 18, can show photo ID if they look under 25, and you have agreed to it. Otherwise the driver cannot hand it over.
The driver tries to call you. If they cannot reach you, the order is returned and you can contact the team to arrange another delivery.
A passport, a photocard driving licence or a PASS-accredited proof-of-age card. Anyone who looks under 25 is asked for ID.
Read how alcohol delivery works and our Challenge 25 policy, check the areas we cover, or reach the team on our contact page. For more on the handover, see delivery safety and age verification and delivering to a hotel.
Deliveries are to over-18s only under our Challenge 25 policy. Please drink responsibly.
