licence to distribute alcohol?

[Experimental Trader]

Do I need a licence to sell alcohol to people who drink it on their own premises? I would be delivering it to them.

 

[Merchant UK]

I would imagine you would need a license to sell Alcohol no matter how you sell it

Have you tried getting in touch with your local council licensing dept?

 

[maxh]

Yes!!!!!!

Contact your council about licensing.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/17/contents

 

[Experimental Trader]

sorry for the late reply. I think I would technically be an off licence which slightly confusingly does need a licence. The council should grant this licence but it seems more complicated than selling the other stuff I intend to sell.

 

[Experimental Trader]

Do I have to pay the VAT as I import the wine or when I sell it?

 

[kulture]

Both. You can offset the VAT you paid on import against the VAT you pay when you sell.

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

sorry for the late reply. I think I would technically be an off licence which slightly confusingly does need a licence. The council should grant this licence but it seems more complicated than selling the other stuff I intend to sell.

If you're going to sell alcohol, you need a licence. Simple as that. "Off licence" simply means a licence to consume alcohol off the premises as opposed to in an establishment (on-licence).

And yes, it will be a complicated process. It's usually only worthwhile looking into it if you intend to set up an established business to really make a go of it, as opposed to a sort of 'part-time' business to supplement your existing income.

 

[Merchant UK]

Dealing with the council is one thing but the Police will also vet you and then either approve or disapprove your application. You need to make sure you have no criminal record or anything which could prevent you from being a bona fide licence holder. ie drink driving, violence, drunkenness etc..

 

[swankypants69]

I think if you are delivering it to the end consumer ie. member of the public then you we need a license

But if you are wholesaling business to business then I don't think you do

 

[Merchant UK]

I think if you are delivering it to the end consumer ie. member of the public then you we need a license

But if you are wholesaling business to business then I don't think you do

I think the OP says he wanted to deliver to customers own houses, which means hes selling to the public

 

[swankypants69]

I'd say the op was a little vague about who he was delivering to

I wouldn't call my home my own premises, I would call it my home or house!

Either way I was just trying to clarify

 

[swankypants69]

Wholesalers may need a licence, depending on who they sell alcohol to. Any sales to members of the public, or to business proprietors for personal use, will be licensable, regardless of the quantity of alcohol supplied.


Only sales of alcohol to other wholesalers, or to the holders of Premises Licences, Club Premises Certificates and Temporary Event Notices, for resale under their own licences, will be exempt from licensing.

Just copied and pasted that from a council website

But yes if you are delivering to members of public for personal use that is definitely a licensable activity

 

[Experimental Trader]

Thanx. the government site isnt very clear about wholesaling. What if I distribute it as a one off event?

 

[Vectis]

I'd be more concerned about the OP trying to import wine and spirits without paying the Duty to HMRC, as per their other thread.

 

[Merchant UK]

Thanx. the government site isnt very clear about wholesaling. What if I distribute it as a one off event?

You would still need a licence, it would be expensive for just a one off event, people who get licenced don't normally do one off events, and i'm pretty sure the council and police will object when you go to court.

if its a one off you'd be better getting your local pub to organise an event for you

 

[patientlady]

Simply ...
B2B you do not need a license,
B2C you do.

 

[Experimental Trader]

I might do a one off event where I give away a few bottles. I will also give free bottles to charity raffles and as prizes for experimental competitions etc. This would be for advertising purposes. Would this need a licence? What if I import it but the official event organiser is the only person involved who has a licence at an event people pay for?

 

[Experimental Trader]

Should have said thank you for the advice about B 2 B not needing a licence. Hope theres not some sort of catch though.

 

[patientlady]

Should have said thank you for the advice about B 2 B not needing a licence. Hope theres not some sort of catch though.

No catch I have worked for a wine and spirit merchant and no license required. The dodgy ground is when a member of the public pops in for the odd bottle !
From your thread I would suggest you get a license as looks like you may dabble with the public. If that's the case good luck with that as they can be an awful pain

 

[Experimental Trader]

No catch I have worked for a wine and spirit merchant and no license required. The dodgy ground is when a member of the public pops in for the odd bottle !
From your thread I would suggest you get a license as looks like you may dabble with the public. If that's the case good luck with that as they can be an awful pain

Brilliant. Hopefully I won't have to bother with a licence by getting people with licences to sell it for me.