BarTalk

Mark Hampshire

Blacksmiths Arms

Little Clacton

Essex

I keep my empties in the underground cellar so I've never had any stolen. I don't think the deposit scheme is a good idea because lots of licensees are responsible about where they keep empties. The number of barrels delivered each month should be recorded; then if the same amount of empties or barrels in use aren't present the next month, licensees should be fined.

Mel Charles

Airedale Heifer

Battyeford

West Yorkshire

Problems arise when licensees buy from wholesalers and not from the brewery - but leave barrels out for the brewery to collect. They end up taking away more than they deliver.

I think if breweries start charging deposits for barrels - but wholesalers don't - this could lead to more people buying out-of-tie because they can't afford to pay for the deposits.

David Smithwick

Langtrys

Stone

Staffordshire

Oh lovely - another charge. This one is completely impractical and won't work at all. I keep my barrels in the cellar and I think most licensees are responsible about where they keep their empties. It is quite often the companies that are irresponsible because they fail to collect barrels. They should be looking at alternatives because licensees really can't afford this.

Ken Harris

Seven Stars

Shincliffe

Durham

I've heard of the problem

where barrels are sold on for scrap metal but there haven't been any incidents reported within my local Pubwatch. We have had to move to two deliveries week now because the problem is that the drays can't always take all of the empties away. So it is not just the responsibility of licensees to pay for a deposit charge on barrels.