SIBA responds to latest announcement of plans for Deposit Return Scheme

Responding to the announcement in January of further details of the proposed Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers in Scotland, SIBA’s Chief Executive Andy Slee issued this statement:

“We support the intent of this legislation and have worked tirelessly with Government and other trade bodies over recent years to propose an efficient solution across the UK. However, this solution adds unnecessary complexity and cost to many small independent brewers as we emerge from the devastation of Covid and its aftermath.

“Small breweries lead the way in sustainability, want to do more to tackle their impact on the environment, and would have supported a Deposit Return Scheme which had the same scope, and was introduced at the same time, across the UK. Sadly agreement could not be reached amongst the four nations and now we will have a piecemeal system with different containers and requirements in different parts of the UK, causing significant barriers to trade. The decision to include glass in Wales and not in England and NI will have significant repercussions for small breweries operating across the border.

“During the passage of the legislation the Government Minister promised that they wanted to protect the smallest drinks producers from the cost burden associated with the introduction of a deposit return scheme, but small independent breweries now face a significant financial hit which will sadly reduce consumer choice and increase prices. The experience in Scotland has shown that small producers need at least 18 to 24 supports any accurate information which gives a better picture of the state of Britain’s brewing industry. It’s essential we’re able to assess the true impact of the last few difficult years, and regularly updated information about the country’s independent brewing sector, and diversity of beer choice for consumers, will be immensely helpful."

Visit the tracker at www.siba.co.uk/brewerytracker

SIBA UK Brewery Tracker 2023

(Brewery numbers correct as of 01.01.2023)

Scotland: 146

Northern Ireland: 29

North East: 265

North West: 209

East: 178

Midlands: 282

West of England: 75

Wales: 102

South East: 335

South West: 207

UK Total: 1,828 months to prepare for the scheme once all the costs, including the producer fee, are known and systems are in place, which only eight months before it goes live in Scotland are still not known. Undoubtedly the Government’s short timeframe will create further costs for small producers.”

SIBA has launched a new Bottleshop Membership for craft beer retailers

Craft beer retailers across the UK are being invited to join SIBA in an effort to create closer ties between brewers and ‘bottleshops’, as well as offer these specialist retailers representation and support.

SIBA Bottleshop Membership is open to independent bottleshops and beer retailers all across the UK, and provides a range of membership benefits including a free legal helpline, legislative support and advice, networking and promotional opportunities and more.

SIBA’s Head of Comms Neil Walker said: “SIBA has introduced this new membership category to build on the relationships we built with bottleshop owners looking for advice and guidance regarding various issues over the last few years, particularly during periods of Covid lockdown where we fought for bottleshops and brewery shops to be allowed to remain open as essential retailers.”

The new SIBA Bottleshop Membership is the final launch of three new membership categories as part of a remit expansion for SIBA, which last year also broadened its membership to include international breweries and UK-based homebrewers. There has been a huge growth in independent beer shops in recent years, with many offering new local delivery and subscription services during Covid as people sought to support local independent businesses.

Linda Birch from Brewery Market in Twickenham, Surrey, has pledged her support and joined as one of the organisation’s founding Bottleshop Members. She said: “We are delighted to be one of the first businesses to become a SIBA Bottleshop Member and are fully behind SIBA’s move to bring the Independent Craft Beer industry closer together. We work closely with a huge range of breweries and look forward to engaging more with them to shape the beer industry for the better.

“On a business level the support and member benefits SIBA offers are hugely valuable and for us it’s a no-brainer to become a member – we will be encouraging other beer shops to do the same. I also look forward to working with SIBA to deliver even more opportunities and benefits for us and other members in the future.”

A Hoppy Place, a craft beer bottleshop and tasting room with outlets in both Windsor and Maidenhead, Berkshire, has said SIBA’s support through Covid was a huge benefit to the sector and is also joining as a founding SIBA Bottleshop Member.

Won a SIBA Keg Beer Award?

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Co-Owner Dave Hayward said: “We are a relatively new business, launching in August 2019. Through the Covid lockdowns we’ve seen the huge benefits SIBA has brought to the sector, battling for the necessary grants and support our industry needed to survive. As a business we took impetus from their work, as well as learning from their panels, and went on to win the UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer (single) category in 2021. We are sure the health of the bottleshop sector is better as a result of SIBA’s efforts and are proud to join as one of the founding bottleshop category members.” SIBA has been a huge supporter of beer shops in recent years through its SIBA Business Awards, where for a number of years a ‘UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer Award’ (with separate categories for single and multiple retailers) has been given. In 2021, this was complimented by a new online retailer award, again seeking to highlight those businesses selling a superb range of independent craft beers and offering a great customer experience.

If you know any bottleshops who might want to join, please email membership@siba.co.uk. For more information visit www.siba.co.uk/ bottleshop

Invite international breweries you know to join SIBA

Keg font hangers can be personalised if required. There is a £15 charge for a unique design. For more information email steve@colorscan.biz

SIBA’s International Membership is now live and SIBA would like to encourage all members to reach out to any breweries worldwide you know or have perhaps collaborated with to join as a SIBA International Member.

As a member they get entry into the SIBA International Beer Awards and free entry to BeerX, as well as the opportunity to network with fellow brewers and a range of other membership benefits.

Find out more at www.siba.co.uk/international