Uber Eats warns customer of account suspension or review over ‘a few’ regular alcohol orders

Uber has called out a customer for placing “a few” regular alcohol orders, warning if it continues they may suspend their account.

Uber Eats is keeping an eye on how many alcohol orders you place – and one customer is not happy about being called out for having “a few”.

An email sent to an unidentified Australian customer – who then shared it on Reddit – said: “Our systems indicate you’ve placed a few alcohol orders over the past few weeks.”

It went on to say if the “ordering pattern” continued a hold may be put on the customer’s account or it could be raised for further review.

“Experts recommend that no more than 10 standard drinks are consumed each week,” Uber advised.

news.com.au understands Uber Eats began sending these alerts in August and does not specify maximum alcohol ordering limits to discourage users from over-ordering.

The email shared a link to DrinkWise. Uber has had a partnership with the not-for-profit organisation since 2016 when it launched a campaign against drink driving, and furthered its involvement in 2018 when Uber Eats first launched alcohol delivery in Melbourne.

An email sent from Uber Eats to a customer about their alcohol consumption. Picture: Reddit / @menotyoutoo

An Uber Eats delivery driver is required to scan a customer’s ID in the app to ensure they are over the age of 18 and check they are not visibly intoxicated before handing over an order.

The driver is paid by Uber to return the alcohol to the store if a person is underage or visibly intoxicated.

The unimpressed recipient of the email said they got an “alcohol order or two” a week.

Some labelled it “lazy risk mitigation” and claimed Uber was only “looking after itself”.

“These corporations jumping on these charitable causes to feign care is sickening,” one person criticised. “Alcoholism is a genuine issue but the way to solve it isn’t some vaguely threatening email from a delivery company.”

Another added: “The charity partnership thing is an easy way of looking like they care and ‘fixing’ the problem.”

“What would be better is ‘we noticed you’ve ordered a lot of alcohol, here’s some support services you can look into if you need it’. Not threatening them to close their account,” wrote a third.

Some suggested restricting how much alcohol someone could buy a week for their health was ironic given there was no limit on junk food orders.

“Yet order two dozen creme donuts, six triple cheese burgers with extra cheese sauce, a kilo of fully-loaded cheese fries, four tubs of Ben & Jerry’s, six litres of Coke and you’re good to go,” one said.

“But order 100 big macs, no problem sir, seems perfectly healthy,” another wrote.

One user argued the effect of unhealthy foods was not comparable.

“They both absolutely have an impact on the health system, but no one’s killing a group of kids with their 4WD because they’re driving under the influence of a triple cheese burger,” they wrote.

When alcohol is delivered to a house the person that placed the order must have their ID scanned by the Uber Eats driver and not be visibly intoxicated. Picture: istock

Uber told news.com.au it was committed to ensuring responsible alcohol consumption.

“This includes frequent communication to encourage moderation, educating consumers about the government guidelines, implementing ID and sobriety checks, and incorporating alcohol ordering limits,” the company said.

“If a customer’s order exceeds the limits, they will be notified in the app and unable to check out. This is to ensure we can make safe, smart, and responsible decisions about alcohol consumption together.”

A year ago it was revealed popular alcohol delivery service Jimmy Brings was being investigated over whether it breached liquor laws in relation to the June 2018 death of a man who reportedly spent $24,000 with the company over three years, including daily orders in the weeks leading up to his death.

Almost 300 orders reportedly included several bottles of alcohol delivered almost daily, including two that were identical and placed within 10 minutes of each other, in the fortnight prior to the 49-year-old man’s death.

Liquor & Gaming NSW confirmed to news.com.au on Friday it did not identify any breaches of the liquor laws that were in place at the time in 2018 and the investigation was closed.

However, the NSW Government has since introduced new laws.

“The new laws have made it mandatory for all delivery drivers to undertake the responsible service of alcohol training and to keep records of all refused deliveries,” a spokesman said.

It is also now an offence to deliver to an intoxicated person with a maximum penalty of $11,000.

NSW now has the strongest express alcohol delivery laws in the country.