SIBA respond to announcement of details on England, Wales and NI’s Deposit Return Scheme
Responding to the announcement of details on England, Wales and NI’s Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers, James Calder SIBA Chief Executive said,
“Independent brewers sell their beer all over the UK and NI. They sell directly to consumer, to supermarkets, to small bottle shops, online and to wholesalers. The news today that glass will be excluded from England and Northern Ireland’s deposit return scheme (DRS) systems should be cautiously welcomed as it signals that glass, as a material, is unworkable within the proposed system and Government have recognised this. But the UK’s independent brewers will now have to engage with three separate DRS models – one in Scotland, one in Wales and one in England and NI. This level of complexity and red tape is a further burden on an already heavily-regulated brewing industry, and comes as breweries are recovering from the pandemic and dealing with huge inflationary rises.
Governments from across the country need to get their heads together and develop one, unified and simple system working in conjunction with our brewing members.
This announcement will also threaten the ability of consumers to choose and enjoy beer from breweries around the country, because in many parts of the UK and NI the cost of supplying independent beer will be prohibitive for small breweries.”
View the Government’s Consultation Response in full:
