Food and drink businesses

The Government has included off licences and shops selling alcohol, including those within breweries, within the list of businesses that can remain open. In addition, those premises which currently hold a licence allowing off sales can offer takeaway or delivery services.

Some businesses may choose to offer takeaway services where they have not done so before and should follow the recommended controls to ensure the proper regulation of alcohol sales at this time.

• Sales of alcohol must be pre-ordered by telephone or internet prior to delivery.
• Invoices relating to delivery must be carried on the delivery vehicle and produced on request to a police officer or Colchester Borough Council (CBC) authorised licensing officer.
• The premises must keep a record of all alcohol orders with the name and address of the customer ordering. This record must be produced for inspection at the request of a police officer or CBC authorised licensing officer.
• The premises must operate a "Challenge 25" scheme, or equivalent, requiring those appearing to be 25 years or under, at the point of delivery, to be asked for accredited identification as to their age.
• A log must be kept at the premises to record all refused sales of alcohol for the reasons that the persons are, or appear to be, under 18 years of age. The log, which should be completed as soon as possible after the delivery, shall record the date and time of the refusal and the name of the member of staff who refused the sale. The log will be available on request by the police or a CBC authorised officer. The log shall be checked on a regular basis by the designated premises supervisor to ensure that it is being used by staff and each check shall be recorded in the log.
• Delivery drivers shall conduct the delivery in a manner that will not cause a noise disturbance to the occupiers of any residential properties surrounding the delivery address. This includes the avoidance of slamming doors, playing loud music, shouting, over revving engines and sounding horns to signal their arrival. The driver must turn the engine off immediately upon arrival at the delivery address
• All deliveries of alcohol shall only be delivered to a premises address with a valid postcode and will only be delivered directly to that property.
• Customers must be instructed when placing the order that they will not be able to collect the order from the vehicle. All deliveries will only be made directly to the property address and customers will not be permitted to take orders from the vehicle.