Water companies to charge for beer disposal from next month

17-Jul-2020 - Last updated on 16-Jul-2024 at 09:06 GMT

To go: publicans have been urged to act fast before water companies reinstate fees for beer disposal applications again

Publicans have been urged to ensure they have made arrangements to destroy their spoilt beer before the deadline to do this free of charge runs out at the end of the month.

Water companies said they would be allowing pubs to get rid of waste stock for free in order to make the process quicker and easier, reducing pressures on the water infrastructure. However, this will end at the end of July.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) said she was disappointed water companies had not decided to continue their fee waiver but urged pubs to act quickly.

Act fast

She said: “We’re strongly advising publicans in England to apply to their water wholesaler to destroy their spoilt beer before the end of July. Any publican who misses the deadline will have to pay costly water company charges and face additional bureaucracy, so it’s better for publicans in England who haven’t already to destroy their beer now.

“We had hoped water companies would continue to waiver their fees and cut out bureaucracy for disposing waste beer for a longer period, but unfortunately the water industry has now set these deadlines.”

Ahead of 'Super Saturday', environmental concerns were raised about the potential risks of pouring huge volumes of beer down the drains in a short period of time, as well as concerns the water infrastructure could be damaged. Some 70m spoilt pints will have been thrown away owing to the shutdown of pubs in March to limit the spread of coronavirus, according to the BBPA's estimations.

In Scotland pubs have until mid-August to make applications for beer destruction, while those in Wales have until the end of August.

The BBPA has a free website which provides guidance for pubs on destroying beer safely and reclaiming duty.