WSET joint bursary scheme open for entries

Applications are now open for a joint bursary programme designed to “widen access to drinks education”, organised by the WSET in partnership with the Worshipful Company of Distillers (WCD) and The Drinks Trust.

Soapbox: Is alcohol in Scotland an endangered species?

Luvians manager Archie McDiarmid fears for the future of the alcohol industry in Scotland if government proposals go ahead

New DRS launch date reconfirms glass exclusion for England and NI

The newest launch date for a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in England and Northern Ireland has re-confirmed that businesses will not be required to participate in a new system for glass recycling. However, confusion still abounds around the roll-out of four different national DRS schemes and how they will work in practice.

More late stage delay for Scottish DRS

A Gateway Review into the already pushed back Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for Scotland has concluded that the scheme won’t be fit to launch by August 2023.

Soapbox: The need to reuse and refill

Muriel Chatel, CEO of Sustainable Wine Solutions, is conducting a pilot with restaurants to prove that most bottles can be saved from waste and reused or upcycled. Here, she makes the case for large-scale refill and reuse

Small producers slip through the net for duty relief

WineGB has criticised the set up of the government’s duty relief scheme which effectively denies small wine producers support. 

Covid passport scheme rollout begins

The implementation of the government's 'Plan B' passport scheme begins today (December 15), despite a significant revolt among members of the Parliamentary Conservative Party.

Scotland announces DRS implementation date

Scotland's Minister for green skills, circular economy and biodiversity has confirmed that the nation's inaugural Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will launch next year.

Scottish hospitality sector relieved as passport scheme not extended

Yesterday's announcement by the Scottish government that the Covid-19 passport scheme will not be expanded to encompass the wider licensed hospitality industry has been met with relief and jubilation.

Scotland delays implementation of Deposit Return Scheme

A perfect storm of Covid-19, Brexit and a struggling hospitality sector has delayed the introduction of Scotland's inaugural DRS scheme, according to Scottish Minister Lorna Slater.

Vaccine passports halve late-night sales in Scotland

New vocational hardship initiative launched by The Drinks Trust

The Drinks Trust has unveiled the launch of a new vocational hardship initiative called Develop, a scheme designed to lift people out of long-term hardship and help tackle the staff and skill shortage in the drinks hospitality sector.

Scottish passport plans ‘capture swathes’ of the night time economy

The Scottish vaccine passport plans are likely to cover more venues than just nightclubs after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon unveiled the details of the plans yesterday.

Majestic unveils national cork recycling scheme

Majestic has unveiled details of a nationwide cork recycling scheme in over 200 of its stores.

UKH: ‘DRS must be workable for hospitality'

Safety and space concerns, increased business costs and bureaucracy caused by the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) would place a disproportionate burden on many hospitality businesses, UK Hospitality (UKH) has said in response to the government’s proposal on the scheme.

Domaine Jones launches Adopt an Old Vine scheme

Ex-pat Languedoc-Roussillon based winemaker Katie Jones is launching an ‘Adopt an Old Vine’ scheme, which will offer customers and followers the chance to become ‘vine parents’ to an old vine at Domaine Jones.

Furlough scheme extended to March

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced that the government’s Job Retention Scheme, better known as the furlough scheme, will be extended until the end of March 2021, with government once again paying 80% of wages up to £2,500 to see businesses through a second wave of Covid-19 infections.

‘Shop out to help out’ scheme needed for small retailers

Extra help is needed to support small, independent retailers through a second lockdown, including a ‘Shop out to help out’ scheme and a cashflow windfall, it has been suggested.

Liberty Wines apprentice scheme opens

Applications are now open for the apprentice scheme run by London-based importer and wholesaler Liberty Wines.

Quarter of licensed premises remain closed as ‘rule of six’ rolls out nationwide

Nearly a quarter of Britain’s licensed premises were still to reopen at the end of August, with the London market particularly slow to recover, new data has shown.