Keg deposit scheme put on hold

Plans to charge licensees deposits on kegs have "hit a brick wall".

Brewers will focus for the time being on other measures to reduce keg thefts, as an alternative to the proposed keg deposit scheme.

The British Beer & Pub Association is leading plans for charging pubs up to £50 deposit per container, in response to a spate of thefts.

BBPA spokesman Mark Hastings said: "The keg deposit scheme remains an active plan. It's merely that the companies have decided to focus on driving good practice over the next year to see what results can be delivered. Following evaluation of that, a decision will be taken whether to introduce a keg deposit scheme."

BBPA discussed the plan with the Society of Independent Brewers (Siba), whose chief executive Julian Grocock said reaction to the plan had been "lukewarm" among some national brewers.

"It became obvious that it couldn't be introduced on an industry-wide basis in one fell swoop."

Grocock said there was "no hard and fast view among Siba members", adding: "The solution of an industry-wide deposit scheme has come up against a brick wall."

The scheme was due to be cash-neutral for licensees, but some pub operators had expressed concerns that it could lead to increased costs.

Best-practice measures to reduce keg thefts include signing for deliveries and having bright orange labels on containers from Siba members, so they aren't taken by someone else by mistake.