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Soapbox: Miles Beale's hope for the future

Published:  06 August, 2024

Wine & Spirit Trade Association CEO Miles Beale shares his optimism that the new government will listen to the trade.

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UK's Deposit Return Scheme faces 2027 Delay

Published:  26 April, 2024

Efforts to align the UK's bottle deposit and return scheme (DRS) across all four nations have hit a snag, with an anticipated launch pushed back to 2027, marking a four-year extension from the original timeline.

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Friday Read: Encirc on uncorking the path to Net Zero

Published:  15 March, 2024

Fiacre O’Donnell, sustainability director at glass container manufacturer Encirc, looks at the future of sustainability for wine and spirits supply, including low-carbon/alternative energy fuels and the possibilities of a digital deposit return scheme (DDRS).

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Lidl trials return scheme after DRS delay

Published:  08 February, 2024

Discounter Lidl has launched its own return scheme for PET plastic and aluminium drinks containers, eight months after the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) was delayed by the Scottish government.

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Scotland fears ‘multi-million-pound’ rates increase

Published:  04 September, 2023

UKHospitality Scotland is urging the first minister to address the multi-million-pound increase in business rates that is set to hamper Scottish hospitality next spring.

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Scottish DRS delayed until 2025

Published:  07 June, 2023

The Scottish Government has officially announced a delay to the launch of its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) until October 2025, following weeks of speculation as to the future of the initiative and a UK-government enforced exemption of glass.

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UK government overrules glass inclusion in Scottish DRS

Published:  30 May, 2023

The latest back and forth between the UK government and Scotland’s devolved powers has derailed plans for Scotland to include glass as part of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), with glass now to be fully excluded both north and south of the border.

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Scotland’s alcohol advertising ban ‘sent back to drawing board’

Published:  19 April, 2023

After significant backlash from the Scottish drinks trade proposals to restrict alcohol advertising north of the border have been, “sent back to the drawing board”, first minister Humza Yousaf has announced.

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Scottish drink trade welcomes DRS delay announcement

Published:  18 April, 2023

Following months of petitioning from the drinks trade, new Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf announced that the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will be delayed until March 2024.

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Letter to Scottish government calls for delay to DRS

Published:  07 March, 2023

Hundreds of businesses have joined forces calling on the Scottish government to “delay, review and rethink” its Deposit Return Scheme.

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Small businesses disadvantaged as DRS saga continues

Published:  03 March, 2023

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) continues to express serious concerns over the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) ahead of the August launch date with many questions about its operation still unanswered and small businesses still disadvantaged.

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Cashflow support fails to soothe Scottish DRS concerns

Published:  22 February, 2023

Circularity Scotland has announced that £22 million of cashflow support will be made available to Scottish producers preparing for the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).

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Trade Associations unite against alcohol ad ban

Published:  21 February, 2023

The UK’s trade associations, representing the alcohol and retail sectors, have joined forces to oppose the Scottish government’s proposals for a ban on alcohol advertising and promotion.

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Soapbox: Is alcohol in Scotland an endangered species?

Published:  14 February, 2023

Luvians manager Archie McDiarmid fears for the future of the alcohol industry in Scotland if government proposals go ahead

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Scotland’s tidal wave of challenges

Published:  10 February, 2023

From the Deposit Return Scheme to a new consultation paper on restricting alcohol advertising, the Scottish drinks industry faces a barrage of problems. James Bayley reports.

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Scotland on-trade facing ‘tidal wave’ of challenges, says SLTA

Published:  31 January, 2023

Scotland’s pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels face an unprecedented cocktail of challenges, according to the most recent Scottish Licenced Trade Association (SLTA) survey.

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New DRS launch date reconfirms glass exclusion for England and NI

Published:  20 January, 2023

The newest launch date for a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in England and Northern Ireland has re-confirmed that businesses will not be required to participate in a new system for glass recycling. However, confusion still abounds around the roll-out of four different national DRS schemes and how they will work in practice.

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Scottish businesses brace for divisive DRS

Published:  16 January, 2023

With news of the cost of living crisis and staff shortages in hospitality dominating headlines in the industry of late, the issue of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in Scotland has taken a back seat.

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Tech: Year in review

Published:  21 December, 2022

This year had its struggles, but the overwhelming response from businesses looking to meet those struggles head-on proves there has never been a more exciting time to work in the wine and spirits trade. Jo Gilbert looks back at 2022’s top technological and digital innovations.

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More late stage delay for Scottish DRS

Published:  16 December, 2022

A Gateway Review into the already pushed back Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for Scotland has concluded that the scheme won’t be fit to launch by August 2023.

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