How to Check an AWRS Number: Step-by-Step Guide for UK Alcohol Buyers
Every UK business that buys alcohol from a wholesaler must verify the supplier's AWRS registration before purchasing. Here's exactly how to do it — and what to do if something doesn't look right.
In this guide
What is an AWRS number?
An AWRS number — officially called a Unique Reference Number (URN) — is the registration identifier issued by HMRC to approved alcohol wholesalers under the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme. Every UK business that sells alcohol on a wholesale basis must hold one.
The format is always four letters followed by eleven numbers (for example, XAAW00000123456). If someone gives you a number that doesn't match this pattern, it is not a valid AWRS URN.
As a trade buyer — meaning any business that purchases alcohol from a wholesaler to resell — you are legally required to verify this number before buying from that supplier. This has been the law since April 2017.
Where to find a supplier's AWRS number
Your supplier's URN should be printed on every wholesale alcohol invoice they send you. This is a requirement under the scheme. If you cannot see it on an invoice, check the supplier's website, order confirmations, or terms of trade — some businesses display it there as well.
If you still cannot find it, contact the supplier directly and ask for their AWRS URN. Any legitimate, registered wholesaler will provide it without hesitation. If a supplier is reluctant or unable to give you their URN, that is a significant red flag — you should not purchase alcohol from them until you can verify their registration.
How to check an AWRS number on GOV.UK
HMRC provides a free online look-up service for verifying AWRS registrations. The process takes less than a minute per supplier.
Step 1: Go to the HMRC look-up service
Visit the HMRC AWRS look-up page on GOV.UK. No login or account is needed — the service is open to anyone.
Step 2: Enter the URN
Type or paste the supplier's Unique Reference Number into the search field. You can also search by the supplier's business name if you do not have the URN to hand, though searching by URN gives the most precise result.
Step 3: Review the result
The service will return the supplier's registration details, including their approval status, business name, trading name, and principal place of business. If the URN is valid and the supplier is approved, you are clear to purchase from them.
Step 4: Save the result
Take a screenshot, print the page, or save it as a PDF. This is your evidence of due diligence. HMRC expects you to be able to produce these records if asked, and best practice is to retain them for 6 years.
How to read the results
When you look up a URN, the HMRC service returns a status for the supplier. The key thing you are looking for is that the status shows as "Approved." This means the business is registered and currently authorised to sell alcohol wholesale.
You should also check that the business name and address match what you expect. If the URN returns a completely different company name to the one you thought you were buying from, investigate further before placing an order.
Important
If the look-up returns no result, or the status is anything other than "Approved," do not buy alcohol from that supplier. Purchasing from an unapproved wholesaler can result in penalties of up to £10,000, seizure of stock, and criminal prosecution.
What to do if a supplier is not approved
If a supplier's URN does not return an "Approved" status, or the number is not found at all, you should stop purchasing alcohol from them immediately. It is also worth contacting the supplier to let them know — there are cases where a business has genuinely lost its registration due to an administrative issue and may not be aware.
However, the legal responsibility sits with you as the buyer. Regardless of the reason, you must not purchase from an unapproved wholesaler. If HMRC finds that you have done so, the fact that the supplier told you they were registered is not a defence.
If you suspect deliberate fraud — for example, a supplier providing a fake or fabricated URN — you can report it to HMRC's Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.
How often you need to check
HMRC says you must check "regularly" but does not define a specific frequency. In practice, the widely accepted standard is to check each supplier at least once every three months (quarterly). You should also always check before your first purchase from a new supplier.
A supplier's AWRS status can change at any time. HMRC can revoke a registration if the business no longer meets the required criteria. A single check when you first start buying from a supplier is not enough — regular re-checks are part of the legal obligation.
For a deeper look at checking frequency and what "regularly" means in practice, see our AWRS Compliance Guide.
Keeping records of your checks
Performing the check is only half the job. HMRC also expects you to keep evidence that you did it. If you are audited and cannot produce records of your AWRS checks, you have no proof of due diligence — even if you did check at the time.
Your records should include the date of the check, the supplier's URN, the result (approved or not), and the business name as shown in the HMRC results. Most businesses save screenshots or printed pages. The recommended retention period is 6 years, in line with standard HMRC record-keeping requirements.
The practical challenge is that these records accumulate quickly. A business with 20 suppliers checking quarterly generates 80 records per year — 480 over the 6-year retention period. Keeping these organised, accessible, and secure over that timeframe is where most businesses struggle.
A faster way to check AWRS numbers
The GOV.UK look-up works, but it is designed for checking one supplier at a time. If you have more than a handful of suppliers, the process of checking each one, saving the result, naming the file, and filing it in the right place adds up to real time — every quarter, indefinitely.
AWRSCheck automates the entire process. You add your suppliers once, set a checking schedule, and the system verifies each one against HMRC's register automatically. Every check generates a verified PDF certificate and is stored in a 6-year compliance vault. If a supplier's status changes, you are alerted immediately.
No more screenshots. No more shared folders. No more hoping someone remembers to run the checks this quarter.
Start a free trial — 14 days free, full access, no credit card required.
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