Stop Unsolicited Alcohol Freebies: Require Explicit Opt-In Consent Across the UK

 

Recently, I opened a food delivery box from HelloFresh and found a free can of cider inside.

 

I had not ordered alcohol. I had not opted in to receive it. It had been left on my doorstep inside a meal box, with no warning, no consent and no age verification at the point it arrived at my home.

 

I am in recovery from alcoholism.

 

Thankfully, I am now in a strong place. But it stopped me in my tracks and made me think:

 

What if this had happened to someone newly sober?

 

What if it had been a foster child in a home where carers are working tirelessly to protect them from substance misuse?

 

What if it had been a vulnerable young person, someone pregnant, someone taking medication that interacts with alcohol, someone avoiding alcohol for religious reasons, someone recovering from trauma, or someone simply choosing sobriety?

 

This is not about banning alcohol.

 

Adults should absolutely be free to choose whether they drink.

 

But alcohol can destroy lives. It contributes to addiction, illness, trauma, family breakdown and preventable deaths. It leaves children without parents, parents without children, and families navigating grief, fear and loss.

 

That is precisely why alcohol should never be normalised to the point that it is unexpectedly placed into people’s homes, hotel rooms, workplaces, deliveries or promotional packages without consent.

 

Across the UK, alcohol is increasingly included as a “freebie”, promotional gift or complimentary item in:

 

• Meal delivery boxes

• Hotels and Airbnb welcome packages

• Subscription services and hampers

• Workplace gifts and events

• Promotional giveaways and deliveries

 

...  often without people actively choosing to receive it.

 

This must change.

 

Alcohol given as a freebie, gift, promotion or complimentary item should only ever be provided through explicit opt-in consent.

 

The solution is simple:

 

A tick-box at checkout or booking.

 

Want alcohol? Tick yes.

 

Do not want alcohol? Tick no.

 

Choice respected. Harm reduced. Dignity protected.

 

After sharing my experience publicly, hundreds of people engaged within 24 hours, many agreeing this should change and sharing concerns about recovery, safeguarding, vulnerable people, foster placements, medication, religion, trauma and consent.

 

This is bigger than one company and bigger than one person.

 

I have helped change policies before.

 

Please help me change this one.

 

Sign this petition to help stop unsolicited alcohol freebies and require explicit opt-in consent across the UK.

 

Because alcohol should be a choice - never an unexpected surprise that puts people at risk.