Age verification for distance selling of alcohol

Version 3 August 2026

This secured procedure describes how Passion for Whisky ensures compliance with the age restriction when selling alcoholic beverages at a distance. The procedure applies from the moment a customer places an order through to delivery or collection. It implements Section 20a of the Dutch Alcohol Act and Section 5.2 of the Alcohol Decree.

Article 1 – Purpose, responsible party and scope

1.1. Passion for Whisky, a general partnership under Dutch law, is responsible for implementing and keeping this secured procedure up to date. We trade under the names Wijn- en Whiskyspecialist van der Boog, Passie voor Whisky and Passion for Whisky.

1.2. Our business and visiting address is Prinses Irenelaan 359-363, 2285 GA Rijswijk, the Netherlands. We are registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number 71860665.

1.3. This procedure applies in any event to distance sales where Passion for Whisky and the customer are established in the Netherlands and the entire sales process takes place at a distance, for example through our online shop, by email or by telephone.

1.4. We sell alcoholic beverages only to persons aged 18 or over. The person accepting or collecting an order must also be at least 18 years old.

1.5. The partners retain ultimate responsibility for this procedure. Staff members who accept, process, pack, dispatch or release orders must carry out the parts that apply to their work.

Article 2 – Age verification before completing an order

2.1. Our websites clearly state that alcoholic beverages are sold only to persons aged 18 or over. We use the NIX18 designation and an age notice when a visitor enters the online shop, among other measures.

2.2. For every online order, the buyer must actively confirm that they are aged 18 or over before completing the ordering process. The order cannot be completed without this confirmation.

2.3. Before completing the order, the buyer receives a clear notice that an age check will also take place upon delivery or collection and that the recipient must present valid identification.

2.4. For an order placed by telephone, email or another means of communication, the staff member asks whether the buyer is aged 18 or over before the contract is concluded. The staff member also states that the recipient’s age will be checked upon delivery or collection.

2.5. If the information provided shows that the buyer is under the age of 18, or if reasonable doubt about the buyer’s age cannot be resolved, we will reject or cancel the order.

Article 3 – Order processing and handover to the delivery service

3.1. An order containing alcoholic beverages is treated as an age-restricted consignment throughout the ordering and dispatch process.

3.2. For deliveries within the Netherlands, we use PostNL through MyParcel. When the consignment is created, the Age Check 18+ shipping option is selected. This option is enabled by default in our shipping environment for consignments containing alcoholic beverages.

3.3. The age check is communicated electronically to PostNL and is visible in the delivery information available to the driver. Where applicable, the consignment or shipping label is also marked to show that an age check is required.

3.4. Before handing the consignment to the delivery service, the staff member preparing it checks that the delivery address is correct and that the age check has been linked to the consignment correctly.

3.5. If no delivery method is available that allows the applicable age requirements to be met, the order will not be dispatched using that method. We will then contact the customer about a possible alternative delivery method or cancellation.

Article 4 – Delivery within the Netherlands

4.1. PostNL performs Age Check 18+ for every domestic consignment containing alcoholic beverages. The driver hands over the consignment only after checking valid identification to establish that the recipient is aged 18 or over.

4.2. The recipient is asked to sign for receipt as part of the Age Check 18+ service. As a rule, Passion for Whisky receives only the delivery status and the information needed to demonstrate delivery. We do not receive or retain a copy of the identification presented.

4.3. The consignment is offered only at the specified home address or at a staffed PostNL service point selected in advance or designated by PostNL where the recipient’s age can be checked.

4.4. A consignment subject to Age Check 18+ will not be delivered to neighbours, left in an unattended location or placed in a parcel locker.

4.5. If the recipient’s age cannot be established, the person present is under the age of 18 or the consignment cannot otherwise be handed over lawfully, the driver will not deliver the parcel and will take it away.

4.6. After an unsuccessful delivery attempt, PostNL may take the consignment to a staffed PostNL service point. The recipient’s age will also be checked there by means of valid identification. If the parcel is not collected within the stated period, it will be returned to us.

4.7. Reports of an incorrect or missing age check are recorded and investigated as incidents. Where necessary, we contact MyParcel, PostNL or the customer concerned.

Article 5 – Collection from a PostNL service point or our shop

5.1. An order containing alcoholic beverages may be collected only from a staffed PostNL service point where a personal age check can be carried out. Collection from a parcel locker is not permitted.

5.2. At the PostNL service point, the consignment is released only to a person aged 18 or over who presents valid identification and completes the required confirmation of receipt.

5.3. For collection from our shop, the customer must first wait for our confirmation that the order is ready. Before handing over the order, the staff member uses valid identification to establish that the person collecting it is aged 18 or over.

5.4. If the order is collected by someone other than the buyer, that person must also be aged 18 or over, be able to present valid identification and provide sufficient order details to identify the order.

Article 6 – Orders outside the Netherlands

6.1. The statutory secured procedure for Dutch distance selling applies to orders where both Passion for Whisky and the customer are established in the Netherlands. Orders to other countries are also subject to the rules of the country of destination and the terms of the carrier used.

6.2. For international orders, we also sell alcoholic beverages only to persons aged 18 or over. If a higher statutory minimum age applies in the country of destination, that higher age requirement must be met.

6.3. Depending on the destination, we use PostNL, bpost or a local delivery partner. The available delivery options and the way in which the recipient’s age can be established upon delivery may vary by country and carrier.

6.4. We dispatch an international order only where the destination is available in our online shop and delivery is possible under the rules known to us. If a country is not listed, the customer may contact us before ordering. We will then assess the available and legally permitted options.

6.5. If no suitable delivery method is available or dispatch may contravene applicable age, import or alcohol legislation, we may refuse or cancel the order.

Article 7 – Information and instructions for staff

7.1. The current version of this secured procedure is available digitally to the partners and staff and may be consulted during their work.

7.2. During their induction, new staff involved in sales, customer service, order processing, dispatch or collection receive instructions about NIX18, the age-verification system and the delivery and collection procedure.

7.3. We discuss changes to legislation, the online shop, shipping settings or arrangements with delivery services as soon as possible with the staff members to whom those changes are relevant.

7.4. Where necessary, we use additional instructions, team meetings, practical guidance or appropriate e-learning about responsible alcohol sales.

7.5. Staff report any deviations, errors or complaints relating to age verification directly to one of the partners. A staff member may stop an order where the age requirements or this procedure cannot be met.

Article 8 – Monitoring, incidents and corrective measures

8.1. At least once a year, we investigate whether this secured procedure is being carried out correctly in practice. We also carry out a review after a significant change or an incident that gives reason to reassess the procedure.

8.2. The annual review includes at least a sample of Dutch orders containing alcoholic beverages. We check the age confirmation during ordering, the shipping option selected, the electronic pre-notification, the shipping label and the available delivery information.

8.3. We periodically place a test order or track an existing consignment throughout the entire process to assess whether Age Check 18+ has been linked correctly and is applied upon delivery or collection.

8.4. We review complaints received, refused deliveries, returned consignments and other indications that an age check may have been omitted or carried out incorrectly.

8.5. For the annual review, we record at least the date, the matters examined, the findings, any measures taken and the person responsible for follow-up.

8.6. If a staff member, shipping setting or external party has not acted in accordance with the arrangements, we take appropriate corrective measures. These may include additional instructions, changes to a setting or work process, correction of an error, consultation with the carrier or temporary suspension of a delivery method.

8.7. After a corrective measure has been taken, we check that it has been implemented and has sufficiently addressed the identified risk.

Article 9 – Review and contact details

9.1. The partners review this secured procedure at least once a year and amend it whenever legislation, our online shop, the ordering process, shipping settings or arrangements with a delivery service change.

9.2. This version was adopted on 3 August 2026 and replaces the previous version, which was last amended on 28 June 2021.

9.3. The current version is available on our website, is accessible to our staff and can be provided to the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) upon request.

9.4. If you have any questions or wish to report a possible issue with age verification, please contact us at info@passionforwhisky.com, on +31 70 394 00 85 or by post at Passion for Whisky, Prinses Irenelaan 359-363, 2285 GA Rijswijk, the Netherlands.