Card machine for Alcohol, Beer and Wine Retailers

Fast contactless payments for the evening rush, competitive rates on your daily volume, and reliable terminals that handle the busiest sessions.

Common challenges

  • Friday and Saturday evening rush needs fast contactless
  • High daily transaction count makes per-transaction fees add up
  • Mix of low-value (single cans) and higher-value (cases, premium wines) purchases
  • Terminal needs to be reliable through long opening hours
  • Age verification slows things down enough without a slow card machine too
  • Want better rates than the current provider but don't know where to start

Recommended solutions

Shift4

Pax A800

Portable/countertop Android 10 terminal with 5.7-inch touchscreen and Payment & POS functionality. Built-in thermal printer along with Wi-Fi & 4g connectivity. Latest model from Pax includes on-screen merchant branding, intuitive over-the-phone payment flow, on-board POS features, as well as being configurable for full Shift4 POS integration (Dine & Delivery)

  • 5.7-inch HD touchscreen
  • Built-in printer
  • Wi-Fi & 4G
  • Contactless, chip & PIN, over-the-phone
  • Queue-Busting Fast Transacting
  • Only integrated with Shift4 POS
  • Latest Android POS & Payments
Hardware
£0
Monthly
Free for 1st machine
Debit
< 1.25% blended
Credit
< 1.25% blended
Commercial
< 1.25% blended
International
< 1.25% blended
Per transaction
0p
Contract
negotiable

Dojo

Pax A920

Compact, Andoid 7 Payment-only device with a 5-inch touchscreen. Built-in thermal printer along with Wi-Fi & 4G connectivity - ideal when payments need to be taken away from the counter. Configurable for integration and to take over-the-phone payments too

  • 5-inch HD touchscreen
  • Built-in printer
  • Wi-Fi and 4g connectivity
  • Contactless, chip & PIN, over-the-phone
  • Can be integrated with multiple POS systems
  • Android 7 payment-only terminal
Hardware
£0
Monthly
£25-35
Debit
0.6% typical
Credit
1.0% typical
Commercial
> 2.25% typical
International
2-3.5%
Per transaction
3–5p
Contract
negotiable

Why off-licences choose uno

Off-licences and wine merchants have a unique trading pattern - steady daytime trade, a sharp spike on Friday and Saturday evenings, and a wide spread of transaction values from a single can of lager to a case of premium wine.

Your card machine needs to be fast enough for the evening queue, reliable enough for long opening hours, and your rates need to make sense across a broad range of basket sizes.

Speed at the counter

The Shift4 PAX A800 processes contactless in under a second. When there’s a queue of customers at 7pm on a Friday, that speed matters - every second of delay costs you customers who walk to the next shop.

Rates across your range

A bottle of beer at £2.50 and a case of wine at £80 sit very differently against your transaction rate. We compare providers to find pricing that works across your whole product range - not just the average.

Reliable through long hours

Many off-licences trade 12+ hours a day, seven days a week. Terminal reliability isn’t optional - one crash during the evening rush can cost you a night’s takings. We recommend proven hardware that handles the volume.

Second terminal for busy periods

If Friday and Saturday evenings mean a second till point, we can set up multiple terminals on the same account at competitive rates.

What you get from uno

  • A fast, reliable terminal for high-volume counter sales
  • Rates compared across providers for your daily volume and basket range
  • Multi-terminal options for busy periods
  • On-site installation and UK-based support

Common questions from off-licence and wine merchants owners

Friday and Saturday evenings are our busiest - can the terminal handle the surge?

The terminals we supply are designed for sustained high-frequency use. A busy off-licence processing a transaction every 30 seconds for three hours straight won't see any slowdown. Contactless processing in under a second keeps the queue moving even when every customer in the neighbourhood arrives between 6pm and 9pm.

Does using a card machine affect age verification?

No. Age verification is your responsibility as the retailer - it happens before you ring up the sale, not at the payment stage. The card machine processes the payment once you've completed the sale. Think 25, Challenge 25, or whatever policy you operate is entirely unaffected by the payment method.

We're starting to do local alcohol deliveries - can I take payment at the door?

Yes. A portable terminal with 4G connectivity lets your delivery driver take card payment on the doorstep. Safer than carrying cash, faster than invoicing, and the customer gets a receipt on the spot. You'll need to handle age verification at the door as you would for any alcohol delivery.

General questions about uno
Which card machine is right for my business?

It really does depend on how your business operates - there's no one 'best solution' for all, as a Fine Dining restaurant in Covent Garden has completely different operational requirements to a Market Trader in Glasgow's bustling Barras, or a Cardiff Arms Park pub. We make the effort to truly understand how your business actually operates - before recommending the best solution from a range of providers, not just one.

How much does a card machine cost?

It varies by provider and model. With some providers, your first card machine comes with no upfront cost, no monthly rental, and no per-transaction fees - so your only cost is the processing rate on each sale you make. Additional terminals - or those from other providers - may well carry rental or per-transaction fees. The exact cost depends on your terminal type, provider, and monthly card turnover. Because uno works across multiple providers, we compare the real-world, overall costs and then find the most competitive deal for your specific situation.

How long will it take for me to receive my takings?

We know for many UK independent buinesses cashflow is a daily struggle. We can offer various options, with settlement times ranging from just a few hours, to the full three days it takes providers to actually receive your customers money. Whatever your working requirements are, we'll find the ideal solution to match those needs.

Do all uno card machines accept contactless payments?

Yes. Every payment terminal we recommend accepts contactless payments, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and standard contactless cards. Contactless is now the default way most customers pay in the UK.

Will I be able to take 'over-the-phone' payments?

For most merchant-types this will be offered as a default payment option, available on-screen along with contactless and Chip'n'Pin. There are a small number of exceptional businesess operational-types where this is not the case - but for most, 'over-the-phone' payments will be offered as standard.

How can we process refunds?

Any terminal uno suggests would allow you to easily identify the original transaction. If still within the same day as the sale, then the transaction could then be 'voided'(aka 'reversed'). Voids/Reverses are typically instantaneous. However, if that trading day's 'banking window' had closed (typically at Midnight) then it would technically be classed as a 'refund' - which would be subject to the bank's standard 3-5 processing timeframe to complete.

Will we need to do complicated PCI compliance like we do with our current provider?

The great news for you is none of the providers uno works with have complicated anything! For those that require PCI of any sort atall, it really is a simple, painless process that just takes a few minutes per year!

Am I locked into a contract?

Not with every provider. Several of the solutions we offer have no long-term contract - you can switch or cancel without penalty. We'll always be upfront about contract terms before suggesting you commit to anything.

How long does it take to get set up?

Most businesses are up and running within a few days. We handle the supply, installation, and configuration so you can focus on serving your customers. We walk you through everything on-site - so you're confident from day one.

Why go through uno instead of going direct to a provider?

Going direct means you only see a single provider's products, at a single provider's prices. Because uno works across multiple providers, we can genuinely compare options and recommend the solution that suits your business - not just the only one we happen to sell! You also get a dedicated point of contact for ongoing support.

Ready to find the right card machine?

We make the effort to your business, understand how you take payments, and recommend the solution that genuinely fits - not the one with the biggest commission.

Call 07395 451520 Get in touch