Home delivery booze service launching
A new alcohol delivery service promises to deliver booze to customers doorstep in less than an hour in Auckland.
Bevee, founded by Jack Price, Jordan Jennings and Hugh Blackburne, will launch in central Auckland suburbs on December 2 and has plans to expand quickly.
Bevee will initially be available in Parnell, Remuera, Greenlane and Epsom.
Blackburne said the online store will sell a range of beers, wines and spirits.
Blackburne said the concept has had success overseas.
‘‘We see it as extremely positive that the decision to drink in the safety and comfort of your own home is becoming an easier decision to make,’’ Blackburne said.
Last year Wellington booze delivery company Quenched faced huge backlash and closed its website just a week after launching.
It faced criticism over its slogans which included, ’’Delivering happiness’’, ’’Need booze quick? We’ll have it to your door in 45 minutes. Don’t stop the party at your place early, we are here to help’’.
Quenched allowed people to buy wine, beer, cider, spirits and snacks online and get it delivered to an address in central Wellington with a delivery fee of just $5.
When Quenched was launched the New Zealand Medical Association chairman Stephen Child said he deplored any move that made it easier to access alcohol in a way that could lead to abuse.
Blackburne said the fate of Quenched was something the group had in mind while setting up their business.
They have met with Auckland Council, the police and the Auckland District Health Board to talk through their concerns, which included supplying alcohol to minors and increasing ease of access to alcohol.
Bevee has teamed up with identity verification service Verifi to ensure customer identification documents were genuine and people were old enough to buy alcohol.
Staff will also check IDs at the customer’s door where needed.
Blackburne said they also have in place rules around when staff could refuse to deliver alcohol, including if they saw a lot of empty bottles lying around the house and if they showed up and there was a rowdy party happening.