DRS delay and alcohol marketing U-turn welcomed

A Kintyre distillery has welcomed the decision to delay Scotland's controversial deposit return scheme (DRS) until next year but says it should have come before now.

 

First Minister Humza Yousaf announced last week that the scheme, aiming to increase the number of single-use drinks cans and bottles being recycled and due to be launched in August, will now not begin until March 2024.

 

Beinn an Tuirc Distillers director Emma Macalister Hall said: “The delay is a welcome development but the government should have hit the pause button long before now.

 

“Producers such as ourselves have been screaming into the void about so many obvious issues with the DRS but the catalyst for the delay was the recent political turbulence, not because the government suddenly decided to start listening to our valid concerns.”

 

As part of the scheme, consumers will be asked to pay a 20p deposit for single-use containers, with businesses required to register to sell PET plastic, glass, steel and aluminium containers.

 

In addition to the delay, it has also been announced that drinks under 100ml and products selling fewer than 5,000 units per year will be excluded from the scheme, with hospitality venues selling most of their drinks products for consumption on their premises exempted from acting as return points.

 

“The fact that they have now excluded bottles under 100ml just illustrates the bad design of the original scheme,” said Emma.

 

“And the exclusion of products of which less than 5,000 units are sold annually looks, on the surface, like a reasonable compromise but actually it sends out a very negative message to small businesses and could potentially be a deterrent to growth.”

 

Emma is now calling for the scheme to be rolled out gradually, including only large-scale producers for the first six months.

 

“This would allow consumers to get fully on board with a new way of recycling drinks containers,” she said.

 

“As a climate positive business, we keep sustainability at the heart of everything we do and we would be completely on board with a well-designed, robust DRS that is not purely a vehicle for profit for yet another government quango.”

 

Emma added that the Scottish DRS must align with other UK schemes to prevent trade barriers with Beinn an Tuirc's biggest markets.

 

Argyll and Bute MSP Jenni Minto said: “While it is disappointing this important scheme has been delayed, I know this is something many small businesses in my constituency welcome.

 

“In order for this scheme to go ahead, it requires exemption to the UK Government’s Internal Market Act (IMA). Unfortunately, they have delayed a decision on this.

 

“It is now crucial the UK Government grants this exemption to ensure this scheme can go ahead on the new launch date.”

 

Beinn an Tuirc Distillers has also welcomed the Scottish Government's U-turn on controversial alcohol marketing plans.

 

Mr Yousaf said said the proposals, which would have seen all alcohol advertising banned, including branded merchandise, public promotions and sponsorship of sports teams and music events, are to be taken “back to the drawing board”.

 

Emma said the timing of the original announcement about the plans “couldn't have been worse”, with the “catastrophe of DRS looming”.

 

She added: “One can only hope that more consideration will be placed on the economic impact of any changes to the way we market and advertise alcohol.

 

“I would also hope that there is now more time to gather scientific data to back-up any claims about the impact of merchandise and advertising relating to alcohol.

 

“Let us be guided by evidence, not an knee-jerk, one-size fits all, quick-fix solution.”