FL joins effort to stop illegal online alcohol sales for minors and other consumers

Following a vaping investigation into marketing and sales of e-cigarettes, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has joined a multi-state effort to stop illegal online alcohol sales, particularly for underage youth.

The National Association of Attorneys General sent letters Tuesday to officials of eBay, Facebook and Craigslist, asking the social media and digital platforms to protect consumers from “unlicensed, unregulated, and untaxed alcohol sales through digital platforms.”

“Some of the products sold in this manner may be counterfeit, mislabeled, or fraudulent,” the letters state. “The consumer may not know that this method of alcohol sales is illegitimate, or that these black market products could pose health risks.”

The letters were signed by 46 Attorneys General, from Alabama to Wisconsin.

“We call upon you to join us in this shared responsibility to protect our youth, the Constitution and the integrity of the digital marketplace,” the group said to the social media and digital officials.

Moody released a press release on the issue Tuesday.

“When websites like Craigslist, eBay and Facebook allow alcohol sales on their platforms—state licensing laws and consumer protection efforts are often violated. This creates risk for consumers who could obtain fake or even tainted products, sometimes with deadly effects,” Moody said in a statement.

“As we’ve seen with the teen vaping epidemic, teenagers are finding new ways to purchase contraband online. That is why I am joining other attorneys general across the country to urge these online platforms to take responsibility and implement meaningful systems and programs to protect Floridians.”