THE owner of Tennent’s lager has warned that Tory changes to exclude glass from the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) could threaten Scotland’s best-selling beer.
Andrea Pozzi, GB Managing Director of C&C Group, sent a letter to First Minister Humza Yousaf and a Holyrood committee on Wednesday saying it could have “serious implications” for his firm, according to The Daily Record.
Scotland’s DRS is due to begin in March 2024, with the earlier start date forcing ministers to seek an exemption from UK-wide legislation which aims to ensure there are no trade barriers between the four nations.
The UK Government agreed the temporary extension from the Internal Market Act, but insisted the Scottish scheme cannot include glass so it matches the initiative in England, which is due to begin in 2025.
READ MORE: Humza Yousaf: Late night letter from UK demands DRS glass exclusion
Yousaf previously said excluding glass could be at the “severe detriment” to Scottish brands like Irn-Bru and Tennent’s.
In the letter, Pozzi confirmed as much, writing: “The announcement further increases the already huge uncertainty around the scheme for the drinks industry, customers, and consumers and, if implemented, would be a fundamental change to the scheme.”
“By removing glass from a Scottish DRS, Tennent’s, as a product sold in can in the Scottish off-trade, would be at a significant competitive disadvantage, undermining our business and therefore placing jobs and investment at risk. The removal of glass will also result in a material reduction of consumer choice.”
C&C’s position is for the introduction of a UK-wide DRS scheme coming in at the same time across all four nations.
The firm added that a Scottish-only scheme should include glass, PET and aluminium.
Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell told The Daily Record: “Tennent’s really have got the Tory party down to a T. While they are trying to kick the DRS can down the road, iconic Scottish brands understandably want to be able to do the right thing. Glass should be a part of it.
“This could have been sorted out if the UK Government had granted the Internal Market Act exemption as was requested. It is now for them to explain to business why they have opted to treat Scotland with such contempt.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel