Deposit Return Scheme Inquiry
An inquiry by the Cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Beer and Pubs
The impact of the Scottish Deposit Return Scheme
The report of the Cross-Party Group on Beer and Pubs inquiry into the impact of the Scottish Deposit Return Scheme is now available to download here.
The report warns that the chances of the scheme successfully going live on time, within its full scope, are vanishingly thin and unless serious defects are addressed the scheme will not succeed and may prove a very costly failure.
The press release is available to download here.
Written evidence received from businesses, individuals and organisations about its impact is available to download under the Evidence tab on this website.
The Group held an evidence gathering session on 23 May for a panel of MSPs to hear from expert witnesses. The recording of this session can be viewed via this zoom link, using passcode: H@2&=w2j
The scheme is due to go live in August 2023, changing the way consumers buy and recycle bottles and cans and aiming to achieve at least 90% collection rates by 2024. The inquiry explored what this means for Scotland’s beer and pubs sector, and in particular:
· the impact of the scheme on brewers, pubs, consumers and the environment,
· the preparedness of the sector to meet the go live date next year,
· the steps that need to be taken in the next 12 months to prepare for a successful launch.
For further information please contact: Paul Hegarty paul@beergroup.co.uk or 01543 483 561
The Cross-Party Beer and Pubs Group’s purpose is to celebrate, recognise and enhance the contribution the brewing and pub-related hospitality industry plays in Scotland. It is an approved Cross-Party Group, registered with the Scottish Parliament’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.
Cross-Party Groups are not formal parliamentary committees but may consider any matter which falls within their remit.
