Conferences

People are driving trailers filled with crates across the border, burdening retailers and breweries.

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Thiel recounted an incident where someone arrived at a small beverage market with a trailer carrying 50 crates, intending to return them for the deposit. The market refused to accept such a large quantity, showing the strain placed on retailers by these large-scale returns. The situation reflects a broader issue where businesses are being pressured by returns that exceed typical household amounts.

Florian Berger from the Association of Austrian Breweries emphasized that retailers have the right to accept only household-typical quantities of bottles and crates and can refuse the return of products they do not offer themselves. “Driving up with a trailer full of crates could backfire,” said Berger, according to T-Online, warning consumers that such practices may not yield the desired financial benefit.

The deposit increase in Austria reignited a longstanding debate in Germany about adjusting its own bottle deposit system, which remained unchanged for decades. Proponents of a deposit increase in Germany argue that it would make the beer bottle more valuable and encourage responsible recycling behaviors. However, the German Brewers' Association currently sees little chance of a deposit increase. 

One major concern among breweries is the perception of a price hike by customers if the deposit were increased. Additionally, there is the fear that customers might delay returning bottles until after any potential deposit increase, potentially leading to shortages of empty bottles needed for production. As reported by T-Online, the costs associated with implementing a deposit increase, such as adjusting return machines and managing the increased value of bottles and crates, are obstacles for the industry.