New measures announced in the Finance Bill today will introduce an Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme (AWRS) in an attempt to tackle the illicit and non-duty paid alcohol market.
The AWRS will provide retailers and enforcement agencies with certainty about the legitimacy of alcohol wholesalers and make it more difficult for rogue wholesalers to sell illicit alcohol.
ACS chief executive, James Lowman, said: “This is a really positive step for local shops and wholesalers in the battle against the illicit trade, which accounted for £1.3 billion in lost revenue to the Treasury in 2012-2013, and hurts legitimate businesses. Retailers will be able to check with greater certainty that the wholesalers they purchase alcohol from will be dealing in duty paid products.
“We will continue to work with HMRC on the regulations and supporting guidance to ensure that application and enforcement of the AWRS does not place extra burdens on retailers”
The Finance Bill was published today (this can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/finance-bill-2015-draft-legislation-overview-documents) and the announcement on AWRS is the result of extensive consultation completed by HMRC, retailers and wholesalers in 2012.
