One day left for wholesalers to register

UK wholesalers have until tomorrow to register under the government’s Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme (AWRS), or they will no longer be able to sell alcohol.

Every UK wholesaler of beer, wine and spirits is required to register before 31 March 2016, affecting all businesses that sell alcohol to other businesses. The scheme’s aim is to reduce the sale of illicit alcohol on which no duty has been paid and which may be dangerous to consumers.

All wholesale businesses that trade in alcohol have to register and will undergo rigorous checks prior to approval. Any company not registered by the deadline, or that fails the inspection, will no longer be able to wholesale alcohol. From 2017 retailers will also be required to check to see if their suppliers are approved.

“It is very important that anyone selling alcohol on to retailers checks to see if they have new obligations under the AWRS scheme”, said chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association Brigid Simmonds. “With just days to go, I urge all those who are affected to take action to register as soon as possible.”

Penalties for failure to comply with the registration, which includes a £10,000 fine, up to seven years in jail and seizure of stock, will come into affect from 1 April 2016.

Penalties for trade buyers who buy alcohol from unregistered wholesalers will start from 1 April 2017. Any alcohol found in the premises of unregistered businesses may be seized, whether or not the duty has been paid.

Applications can be made through the government’s AWRS website here. There are a number of possible exemptions listed on the AWRS page with a series of flowcharts designed to help organisations understand what exemptions they may qualify for.

For more information and guidance on registering please click here.