UK Pubs to Get Relief From Packaging Fees as Glass Exemption Is Planned

Verified and updated November 12, 2026, at 1:36 a.m. UTC.

The UK government has announced a planned change that could reduce packaging costs for pubs: from April 2027, glass drinks containers supplied directly by producers to pubs, restaurants, and other licensed hospitality venues are expected to be exempt from Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees. Defra says the change targets double charging, while a separate consultation planned for early 2027 will consider how fees can better reward recyclable materials. The exemption is a future measure, not an immediate change to current bills. Defra’s November 11 announcement estimates savings of up to 6p per beer bottle and 10p per wine bottle for affected businesses.

The announcement also leaves an important question open for pubs buying through intermediaries. The government says it will develop a ratio-based approach for indirect supply, and the British Beer and Pub Association has warned that leased and tenanted pubs must be included for the change to reach the whole sector. No final rules or universal pub-level savings have yet been published.

Destaques

• Directly supplied glass drinks containers are planned to become exempt from EPR fees in April 2027.
• Defra estimates potential savings of up to £870 annually for a pub selling 10,000 beer bottles and 3,700 wine bottles.
• Indirect supply and the treatment of leased and tenanted pubs still need clarification.
• A fee consultation is planned for early 2027; recyclable packaging could see reductions, but no final rates are set.

What changed in the UK packaging fee announcement?

The November 11 announcement is a policy commitment to remove EPR fees on drinks containers made of glass when they are sold directly from producers to hospitality venues. Defra characterizes the current arrangement as double charging for the same packaging. It estimates the planned change could save up to 6p on a beer bottle and 10p on a wine bottle. Its example pub, selling 10,000 beer bottles and 3,700 wine bottles, could save as much as £870 a year.

Those figures are government estimates, not a guaranteed rebate or prediction for every pub. Actual effects will depend on volumes, supply arrangements and how suppliers currently pass on compliance costs. The measure is scheduled for April 2027, so operators should not assume an immediate reduction in invoices.

Who pays EPR packaging waste fees now?

EPR for packaging shifts specified household packaging waste management costs toward obligated producers. Under current PackUK guidance, large producers pay annual disposal fees for relevant household packaging, packaging commonly discarded in public bins, and glass household drink containers. Fees are based on reported packaging weight and material; small producers do not pay these disposal fees. A pub may encounter the cost through a supplier’s pricing, but the legal liability depends on whether the business itself qualifies as an obligated producer and what packaging activities it undertakes. PackUK’s fee guidance explains the rules for liable producers.

Separately, 2026–27 is the scheme’s second assessment year, running from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. Illustrative per-tonne fees published earlier are not the same as a pub’s bill, and PackUK says year-two confirmed fees depend on submitted data and regulator checks. Its operational plan says it intends to issue initial year-two liability notices by the end of November 2026. The government’s new April 2027 glass exemption comes after this assessment year.

How could the planned reforms affect pub costs?

For venues that buy eligible glass containers directly, the announced exemption could make the fee component smaller from April 2027. Defra also plans an early-2027 call for evidence about fees paid by manufacturers, including options for easy-to-recycle materials such as glass and paper to cost less, while some harder-to-recycle plastics cost more. The announcement says the most recyclable packaging could see fees fall by up to 40% per year, but that is a potential outcome to be explored, not a confirmed discount or timetable for individual products.

The impact may differ for pubs using wholesalers or other intermediaries. Defra says it will seek a ratio-based solution for indirect supply, while the trade association has highlighted the need to include the 12,000 publicans running leased and tenanted pubs. Until final rules explain eligibility and how savings flow through supply contracts, pubs should treat the announced savings as indicative.

What should pub operators check next?

Operators can review supplier invoices and contracts to understand whether packaging-related costs are itemized, and ask suppliers how their business expects to handle the planned exemption. Pubs that import, fill, pack or supply packaged goods should check their own status against official EPR guidance rather than assume that being a hospitality venue automatically creates or removes liability. Keep records of direct versus intermediary purchases, product types and volumes; those details may help clarify the effect once the government publishes implementation rules.

The next confirmed milestones are the planned early-2027 call for evidence on producer fees and the April 2027 start date for the direct-supply glass exemption. Until then, existing obligations and notices remain the practical reference for liable producers. The latest announcement signals targeted relief, while the detailed reach and eventual savings remain to be established.

FAQ

When will the glass packaging fee exemption start?

The government says the exemption for glass drinks containers supplied directly to hospitality venues is planned to begin in April 2027.

Will every pub save £870 a year?

No. £870 is Defra’s example for a pub selling specified bottle volumes; actual savings will vary, and indirect supply rules are still being developed.

Do small pubs pay EPR disposal fees directly?

PackUK says small producers do not pay these disposal fees. A pub’s own obligations depend on whether it meets the producer criteria; suppliers may also reflect costs in prices.