The purpose of the BWA is to:

• Represent the interests of beverage manufacturers and associated supplier and service companies.
• Promote the business interests of members in formulation and implementation of U.K. and European legislation.
• Encourage exchange of best practice information between members.
• Provide an effective communication network on key business issues.

The Association has advanced and grown over the years and has twice changed name, first to The Scottish Bonded Warehousekeepers Association, and then in 1979 to The Bonded Warehousekeepers Association.

Membership was restricted to companies who held a Custom & Excise Bond, and the object of the Association was "to generally, and always in so far as consistent with the Law, to promote interests of members". Following publication of a consultancy report on how the Association should develop and move forward into the next century, the Constitution was altered to allow a broadening of the membership.

Today, companies associated with the beverage industry, such as information technology and handling equipment suppliers, security organisations and other service providers are welcome as members.