The (SLTA) Scottish Licensed Trade Association has welcomed the announcement by First Minister Humza Yousaf the deposit return scheme (DRS) will be delayed until next spring – but warned that time must be used to revisit the scheme to make it “workable and practicable”.
SLTA managing director Colin Wilkinson said: “It’s excellent news for our sector as many pubs and restaurants have been extremely worried about how the DRS is going to work in practice – common sense has prevailed.
“However, there is still going to be a DRS – this is just a delay – and it’s absolutely crucial that the Scottish Government now seriously listens to the concerns of industry to ensure that the DRS, when it is implemented next year, is fit for purpose for businesses and consumers.”
Meanwhile, the SLTA has described as “excellent news” that plans for a major clampdown on alcohol advertising have been scrapped by Mr Yousaf.
While supporting the aim of proposals that went out to consultation last November – to reduce the harm caused by alcohol to children – he accepted that the industry was concerned given current numerous challenges and confirmed that officials would “take these ideas back to the drawing board”.
Mr Wilkinson said: “This is excellent news and we look forward to engaging with Scottish Government officials as they revisit these proposals which, in their current form, would be catastrophic for the drinks industry and tourism sector.”
