‘Booze Now, Pay Later’ – Salvation Army Calls for Urgent Ban on BNPL Alcohol Sales
The Salvation Army is calling for urgent regulatory reform to prohibit Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services from being used to purchase alcohol in New Zealand, warning that this growing trend is fuelling a ‘brewing storm’ of financial and social harm.
In the newly released report Booze Now, Pay Later, The Salvation Army highlights the increasing availability of BNPL platforms, including at bottle stores, supermarkets and online alcohol delivery services, as well as the rising debt among financially vulnerable people and families we support.
“Buy Now, Pay Later might be promoted as a flexible payment option, but for many of the whānau we support it too often leads to unmanageable debt,” says Dr Bonnie Robinson, director of The Salvation Army Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit.
“When alcohol is added to the mix, especially in communities already vulnerable to alcohol-related harm, the risks multiply. We’re deeply concerned about the direction this is heading.”
The report notes that while BNPL use for essential living costs remains limited, its expansion into alcohol retail could significantly increase harm for those already under financial pressure.
BNPL services are now used on platforms such as DoorDash, or directly through alcohol-specific apps like GIMME, often bypassing traditional safeguards.
Key findings include:
- BNPL is disproportionately used by low-income households, younger consumers and those already in financial hardship.
- Around 75% of alcohol is sold through off-licenses, which are heavily concentrated in high-deprivation communities.
- Remote alcohol licences and rapid delivery services are expanding access with minimal oversight.
- BNPL lowers upfront costs, encouraging bulk buying and undermining public health goals.
The Salvation Army is urging government to:
- Amend the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 to prohibit BNPL for alcohol purchases.
- Strengthen Local Alcohol Policies (LAPs) to include mandatory BNPL restrictions.
- Fully regulate BNPL under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act, including affordability checks.
“Deferred payment should not apply to a product that causes $9 billion in social harm each year,” says Bonnie. “We need to act now to prevent BNPL from becoming the new normal in alcohol retail.”
Read the report: SPPU Report Oct 2025 – Booze Now, Pay Later
The Salvation Army Territorial Media Officer, 021 945 337, email: media@salvationarmy.org.nz (The Media Officer responds to enquiries from media outlets and journalists. If you would like to donate, are in need of help, or have some other non-media-related enquiry, please call 0800 53 00 00.)