Retailers across Scotland have welcomed the news that the government has put plans to introduce a levy on all drinks cups on hold.
The move had originally been planned largely as an environmental measure, but as the new proposals failed to specify which material would fall foul of the charge, there was confusion as well as accusations that it wouldn’t, in fact, reduce waste at all.
The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) originally warned that adding a charge of at least 25p to every disposable drinks cup, regardless of material used, would be bad for business and would not achieve the government’s aims.
When the move was first proposed, the Fed’s National President, Mo Razzaq (right), who runs Premier Mo’s in Blantyre, said the move would give retailers no incentive to use cups made from recycled materials.
He said: “With more sustainable cups - such as those made from biodegradable material or bio-based plastics included - there will be no incentive for retailers to buy and serve drinks in recycled materials.
“This could push coffee drinkers to larger outlets as they can absorb the tax better than smaller retailers.”
Responding after the Scottish government announced that it would not be introducing the single-use cup charge in 2025, Razzaq added: “We’re pleased the government is acting on Fed members’ concerns. We agree that action is needed to better protect our environment but this ‘latte levy’ is not the right way to go about it.
“Instead of adding at least 25p to the cost of disposable hot and cold drinks cups, Fed members believe that litter louts should be given heftier fines of £500 or £1,000 and community service picking up litter.”
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