UK Pubs Hit by Europe's Highest 'Bevvy Levy' Sparking Outrage

• UK glass recycling charges hit £240 per ton, the highest in Europe.
• Pubs and brewers face a £1.6 billion annual cost from new recycling fees.
• Charges will add an extra 12p to a bottle of wine and 6p to a bottle of beer.
• Critics call this a massive "own goal" that could choke investment, jobs, and growth.

The British pub industry is facing a new challenge with the highest recycling charges in Europe, a move that’s expected to cost businesses an eye-watering £1.6 billion per year. Starting today, companies putting more than 25 tons of packaging on the market will be required to pay extended producer responsibility (EPR) fees, with the UK charging a staggering £240 per ton for glass recycling. This is far more than any other European country, with Poland, Germany, and Greece charging significantly less.

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, has slammed the policy, calling it an “unfair” tax that will hit brewers and pub owners hard. She warns that this "bevvy levy" will stifle investment, cost jobs, and ultimately make it harder for the UK's cherished pubs and breweries to thrive.

McClarkin stated, “Brewers will be seriously disadvantaged by this bevvy levy, which is unfair, poorly rolled out, and detached from reality. The costs are a spectacular own goal. They’ll choke investment, cost jobs and stifle growth."

A government spokesperson defended the move, explaining that the goal is to crack down on waste and boost recycling, with EPR for packaging being a vital first step in reducing environmental impact. However, industry leaders are skeptical, as environmental experts estimate that these new measures will not significantly improve recycling rates in the next five years.

Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, the discount code platform, said, “It’s clear that businesses already struggling post-pandemic are facing yet another hurdle. If the government truly cares about supporting our pubs, they must rethink these excessive fees that threaten their future."