A coroner has condemned the online home delivery of alcohol via apps following the death of a man with 'unmet mental health needs'. Joseph Cooper, 28, died in a fall after he 'placed himself' outside a window of his third-floor flat in Stockport. He was 'profoundly intoxicated' at the time.
Inquest Details
An inquest into his death heard he was able to order large quantities of alcohol via online delivery services and have them 'delivered to his door quickly', including on occasions when he was 'already obviously intoxicated'. Chris Morris, area coroner for south Manchester, said Mr Cooper's death was 'contributed to by the co-occurring conditions of depression and alcohol dependence syndrome'.
The coroner has now written to the Government to voice a series of concerns and call for urgent action to prevent future deaths. The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 gives coroners the power to make reports to a person, organisation, local authority or Government department or agency where they believe action should be taken.
Coroner's Concerns
Mr Morris, in his published report, said he was concerned over large quantities of alcohol 'quickly and readily available' from retailers via online delivery services. He noted an 'unrestricted availability' of alcohol via delivery apps. Mr Cooper died on June 19, 2025, and the inquest concluded at Stockport Coroner's Court. A medical cause of death was given as 'multiple traumatic injuries and profound acute alcohol and drug intoxication'.
In his letter to Health Secretary James Murray MP, Mr Morris also voiced concerns over healthcare services for patients with multiple diagnoses and 'the ongoing absence of a unified digital NHS healthcare records system in England and Wales'. He recorded a narrative conclusion that 'Mr Cooper died as a consequence of complications arising from injuries sustained in a fall from a height and profound intoxication in the context of unmet mental health needs'.
Healthcare Gaps
Mr Morris wrote: 'The court heard evidence that at the time of his death, Mr Cooper had unmet mental health needs principally as a consequence of no specific service or treatment pathway existing locally which would provide holistic and coordinated care for co-occurring mental health and substance misuse conditions.' He added: 'Mr Cooper was able to order large quantities of alcohol via online delivery services and have them delivered to his door quickly, including on occasions when he was already obviously intoxicated.'
'I am concerned that large quantities of alcohol are so quickly and readily available from a range of retailers via online delivery services with only basic age-verification checks being undertaken.' The court heard that professionals from the drug and alcohol service treating Mr Cooper had no access to his mental health records despite both services being under the same NHS Foundation Trust.
