DoorDash recently announced it now offers alcohol delivery in New Jersey.
Consumers in the Garden State can toggle to the alcohol tab on the DoorDash app to browse and order from eligible local merchants.
“This is a huge step forward for consumers across New Jersey who will now be able to enjoy the convenience of having alcohol delivered safely to their doors,” said Erik Ragotte, DoorDash’s general manager of alcohol and convenience.
Ragotte says the delivery giant has worked to build its alcohol ordering system with “robust safeguards” that “go beyond what a typical store transaction consists of.”
This is done through the company’s ID scanning verification process. IDs are scanned via the app before the first alcohol purchase and again at the door, on top of a physical ID check at the point of delivery. Couriers are to also check for any visible signs of intoxication.
IDs are scanned via the DoorDash app before a consumer’s first alcohol purchase and again at the door, on top of a physical ID check at the point of delivery.
The protocols are part of updated safety guidelines made earlier this year by the e-commerce company. This included halting alcohol delivery in high-risk areas such as college campuses, an initiative that first kicked off in September in Massachusetts—a state with the highest concentration of college students nationwide.
The e-commerce company also allows shoppers to voluntarily exclude alcohol from appearing as an option on its marketplace.
In addition, New Jersey Dashers interested in including alcohol in their routes are required to complete a course on safe and responsible delivery.
Yet, despite the enhanced safety guidelines, alcohol delivery continues to be on the rise. According to DoorDash’s 2023 Alcohol Ordering Trends report, 60 percent of the 500 surveyed report using the service more than the previous year.
When looking at consumer behavior, 67 percent of shoppers say they order alcohol online as a treat, whereas 42 percent cited comfort, convenience and time savings as reasoning.
Ahead of the pandemic DoorDash only offered alcohol delivery in California. However, today it’s available in more than 30 states, competing with other third-party platforms that offer similar service in select markets such as Uber Eats and Grubhub.
