Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What alcohol licenses are required to sell online direct-to-consumer and B2B in the UK?
You need multiple licenses depending on your sales channel: **B2B sales:** Members confirm you must register with **AWRS (Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme)** via the HMRC website (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-alcohol-wholesaler-registration-scheme-awrs). This is the legal requirement for wholesaling alcohol to other businesses. **D2C online sales:** You can sell online without additional restrictions, but the goods must ship from a licensed premises. This can be your own premises or a third-party fulfilment house that holds an alcohol license. **Required premises and personal licenses:** For any D2C operation, you need: - An **off-licence for your premises** (the physical location from which alcohol is shipped) - A **personal licence for the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS)**—the individual responsible for the premises Members emphasize that the structure is: AWRS registration for B2B wholesale eligibility, plus premises and personal licensing for the actual location where stock is held and shipped. If using a third-party fulfilment house, that house must already hold the necessary alcohol premises license.
Do you need a premises licence for B2B spirit trading, or is AWRS registration sufficient?
AWRS registration alone is sufficient for B2B spirit trading—you do not need a premises licence for business-to-business sales. However, if you trade D2C (direct-to-consumer), a premises licence becomes mandatory.