UK Pubs Could Save Up to 6p a Beer Bottle as Glass Charge Ends
Pubs in the UK will save up to 6p on every beer bottle and 10p on every wine bottle from April 2027, when the government
Pubs in the UK will save up to 6p on every beer bottle and 10p on every wine bottle from April 2027, when the government ends what it calls a double charge for recycling the same glass packaging.
Glass drinks containers sold directly from producers to pubs, restaurants and other licensed hospitality venues will no longer be liable for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees from that date. EPR is a system that makes businesses pay towards the cost of recycling the packaging they put on the market.
What the saving looks like
The government said a pub selling 10,000 beer bottles and 3,700 wine bottles a year would save up to £870 annually. The figures are upper limits, not guaranteed amounts.
Ministers said the change is aimed at cutting unfair costs for restaurants, pubs and hospitality businesses when they dispose of packaging and waste. They also described it as a step to back Britain's glass industry.
Pressure on the pub trade
The announcement lands as the sector presses for wider help. Pub landlords have called for relief on VAT ahead of John Healey's first Budget, and a separate report says the Chancellor is planning a tax break aimed at saving 5,000 pubs.
Community efforts are also under way. In Upper Basildon, Berkshire, villagers raised £450,000 toward the £760,000 purchase of The Red Lion, a pub that had stood derelict for nearly three years. Contributors receive credit to spend at the bar each month. A household that gave £3,000 gets £25 a month for 10 years, roughly a pint a week.
The government's announcement does not say whether pubs will pass the savings on to customers through lower beer or wine prices. The EPR exemption for glass sold directly to licensed venues starts in April 2027.
