Uber Eats is delivering booze with little self-regulation
Loosened alcohol sales laws have been a boon to restaurants still open during the pandemic, allowing them to partner with delivery apps like Postmates and Uber Eats to fulfill cocktail orders. Problem is, the Uber Eats app was not coded to provide alcohol sales in most markets, so protocols—such as ID scanning, signature verification, and step-by-step guides for delivery drivers—are not built in. With no flags raised, both restaurants and drivers are left criminally liable for serving alcohol to a minor or intoxicated party. A spokeswoman for Uber Eats told the Washington Post they were sending “guidance to restaurant partners reminding them of … the importance of alcohol regulatory compliance.” Nonetheless, the Post recently tested the system in California, and was able to procure multiple contact-free booze deliveries in the process.