The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has launched a campaign to encourage Licensing Authorities to put an end to the use of plastic or polycarbonate pint cups as a licensing condition for pubs, social clubs and other on-trade venues. In some instances, Licensing Authorities mandate their use as a condition of premise licenses, such as when broken glass from dropped pint glasses may present a risk to customers and staff.
CAMRA is calling for alternatives to plastic and polycarbonate to be allowed, such as paper, aluminium and compostable corn starch. Over 200 members across the UK are intending to write to their local Licensing Authorities to request a change in the wording of licensing conditions to allow a wide range of materials or simply give a list of specifications the alternatives must meet, such as being shatterproof.
The campaign’s research has shown that 75 per cent of consumers find that plastic worsens the taste of their beer. Almost 70 per cent of plastic pint cups end up in a landfill or as litter – they are the sixth most littered item in UK rivers. The cups are also the eighth most commonly found item on UK beaches.
Two months ago CAMRA expressed its support for a similar campaign called ‘Plastic Free Pint’, run by NGO ‘A Plastic Planet’.
Nick Boley, Campaigns Director at CAMRA, said: “CAMRA’s members voted to add environmental campaigning to the areas we lobby on at our 2021 Conference and we want to support the innovators who are creating solutions for a plastic-free pint but can’t currently market their products to the on-trade.
“Longer-term, CAMRA will be calling for plastic pints to be included in the bans on single-use plastic being rolled out by governments across the UK, to ensure that our nation isn’t clogged with littered plastic pints and that we can always enjoy real ale, cider and perry without the taste of plastic.
“For one area of government to be mandating the use of plastic, while other areas of government look at banning it, is ridiculous – we want to see a more joined-up approach to this issue.”
Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet, added: “It is an outdated and irrational position of Licensing Authorities to mandate the use of damaging single-use plastic when the sustainable alternatives are readily available.
“The British public is eager to see change. Venues are being shackled by the narrow specifications handed down from above. The pubs and bars of the UK should be able to drive forward their shared agenda of making sustainable alternatives to plastic the norm.”
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.