Alcohol Licence for selling online

TheHorse

Not sure which forum to put this in.

I'm looking to sell alcohol online but don't intend to stock/handle any alcohol at our premises. We have a thrid party booze wholesaler in place who are going to drop ship/direct deliver all of our orders on our behalf so essentially we are only running the website and dealing with the transactions/admin of orders etc.

Do we actually need an alcohol licence? I've ready in a few places that this is not the case but wondered if anybody could confirm/deny this (not as a definitive answer - just guidance).

Thanks

:beer:

underlay_guru

Hi,

I'm not an expert, but even though you are not seeing, handling or even delivering the alcohol yourself, your customer is still officially being supplied the alcohol by you and your company.

I'd expect you would need a licence, but email your local council to make sure.

rupee99

It probably depends on the quantity you are supplying and whether the wholesaler is licensed and if so whether you are covered by it.

Licencing used to be the responsibility of the local police, if it still is have a word at your local station, although I have a feeling they may have passed these duties over to the local council.

the182guy

You need to discuess your business model with your local council, they have the authority to grant/licences for pretty much any reason they see fit.

It's possible that you don't need the licence because you don't handle the goods, but you also have to consider things like returns for example, will you be accepting returns at the business address etc etc.

Also, if they do say you don't need a licence, ensure you get written confirmation of this incase you need it in future.

cazziebo

I used to work for an on-line wine seller and I had to look into this. However, I believe the licensing laws have since been changed, although I don't know in what way...

We only sold by the 12 bottle case so did not need a license. We also had to ask all customers to verify that they were 18 (by ticking a box, no other check).

We looked at offering specialist spirits and world beers but this was going to get too messy in terms of both licensing and packaging.

(It was actually quite difficult to investigate. The licensing people at the council couldn't give me a definite answer, and I think I ended up with customs and excise. This was 1999/2000 so online retailing was quite new - people will be more savvy now)

TheHorse

We aren't looking to handle even returns and that's why we figured we wouldn't need a licence.

Your replies pretty much confirm what Ive read elsewhere, and that is to get a definitive answer from the council (wish me luck with that....)

Innpacked

For selling alcohol on-line you will need Premises Licence on the premises from which you dispatch the goods. You will also need a Designated Premises Supervisor who must be a Personal License Holder(NCPLH). One problem you will have is how you will ensure that you are not selling to under age minors. Failing to address this will result in refusal of licenses effectively ending the business. Wholesaling does not carry the same licensing requirements. Speak to the local council where you intend to operate.

soolin

Innpacked wrote: »

For selling alcohol on-line you will need Premises Licence on the premises from which you dispatch the goods. You will also need a Designated Premises Supervisor who must be a Personal License Holder(NCPLH). One problem you will have is how you will ensure that you are not selling to under age minors. Failing to address this will result in refusal of licenses effectively ending the business. Wholesaling does not carry the same licensing requirements. Speak to the local council where you intend to operate.

The thread is 15 months old and i suspect the OP has long gone.

GothicStirling

Innpacked wrote: »

For selling alcohol on-line you will need Premises Licence on the premises from which you dispatch the goods. You will also need a Designated Premises Supervisor who must be a Personal License Holder(NCPLH). One problem you will have is how you will ensure that you are not selling to under age minors. Failing to address this will result in refusal of licenses effectively ending the business. Wholesaling does not carry the same licensing requirements. Speak to the local council where you intend to operate.

This, I've worked in the trade for 10 years and managed my own licensed bar.

I don't know how you would get the idea that you wouldn't need to hold a license. Innpacked is spot on, you will have to prove to to the council and the police how you will safeguard against underage sales.

GothicStirling

soolin wrote: »

The thread is 15 months old and i suspect the OP has long gone.

Then that makes the thread's misinformation terrifying. :eek: