LICENSEES planning to destroy unsellable beer and cider can now liaise with brewers directly via a new website.
Returnyourbeer.co.uk is operated by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and allows publicans to contact brand owners in order to receive permission and guidance on how to destroy draught beer and cider that is unsellable due to the coronavirus pandemic. The licensee will be able to use the site to record the destruction of the liquid, which will allow the drinks company to reclaim the duty and then reimburse the operator.
Although the site is open for anyone in the licensed trade to use, tenants and lessees will need to check with their pub company first to find out if an alternative approach is preferred by that company.
Brewers that have signed up to the site include Budweiser Brewing Group; Heineken; Molson Coors; Carlsberg; Asahi; and Innis & Gunn.
BBPA chief executive, Emma McClarkin, said: “We’re encouraging businesses with spoilt beer they need to destroy to visit www.ReturnYourBeer.co.uk and pre-register. The platform will provide guidance and instructions necessary to destroy beer, as well as crucially recording that destruction to enable duty to be claimed back on it. We estimate this could be worth tens of millions of pounds of credit flowing back to pubs and the wider on-trade. Crucial at this hugely challenging time.
“This cross-industry platform is free to use and should help businesses of all shapes and sizes who serve draught beer as they re-stock and re-fresh ahead of reopening.”
