Welcome Delay to Deposit Return Scheme

The new First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf gave a speech to the Scottish Parliament outlining policy priorities for his government. There were significant announcements on some our key campaigns in Scotland:

The First Minister is delaying the introduction of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme from August 2023 to 1st March 2024. The Environment Minister Lorna Slater will make further announcements about the new timetable, as well as a package of new measures to simplify the scheme and make it more accessible for small producers and the hospitality sector.

Commenting on the decision by Scotland’s First Minister to delay the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme, CAMRA’s Scottish Director Stuart McMahon said: 

“The First Minister’s announcements this afternoon will be welcomed by beer drinkers and pub goers across the country.  

“We had risked seeing consumer choice decimated if brewers and cider producers decided to stop selling into the Scottish market because of the Deposit Return Scheme. We still think there should be a UK-wide scheme, but simplifying the process and delaying its introduction until March 2024 gives ministers the chance to make the scheme workable and make sure consumers can still have a decent choice of beer and cider from small and independent producers across these islands. "