Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
For a London pub, bar or restaurant, useful Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) preparation means identifying affected stock, mapping how drinks are sold and giving each unanswered question an owner. The scheme is due to launch on 1 October 2027, so there is no need to guess at a final collection procedure now. Our DRS overview for pubs, bars and restaurants explains the wider scheme.
Start with the decisions you can map now
Audit packaged drinks by format. Record material, capacity, single-use status and country of sale. The standard England scope covers eligible single-use PET, aluminium and steel drinks containers from 150ml to 3 litres inclusive. Use our hospitality container guide for the full checks.
Map each service route. Separate definite on-site consumption from takeaway and note unclear destinations. In England, immediate on-site service can use the deposit opt-out, while takeaway sales must carry the deposit. This prevents one rule being applied to every sale.
Estimate exposure using your own volumes. Apply the confirmed 20p deposit to estimated eligible-container volumes. Treat this as planning arithmetic, not an invoice, VAT or accounting method. The guide to deposits, takeaway sales and empty containers explains conditional recovery.
Assess space and constraints. Identify where retained empties might fit, but do not prescribe bags, crates, crushing, rinsing or collection frequency. Final acceptance and storage specifications must determine the process.
Write down the questions. Ask suppliers how product data will be communicated; ask EPOS and accounting contacts whether current systems can distinguish deposits and sale routes; and ask your waste contractor how DRS may interact with existing arrangements. These questions do not establish that an upgrade or service is required.
Give each information stream an owner
A short ownership list can keep decisions moving:
- Buyer: affected stock lines, product information and the distinction between legacy and scheme stock.
- Operations lead: service routes, possible space for retained empties and the on-site customer policy.
- Finance or systems contact: deposit data, reconciliation questions and whether sale routes can be distinguished.
- Venue manager: the required customer information and a later staff briefing once the process is confirmed.
This gives the venue somewhere to record answers as guidance develops.
Registration depends on the venue’s role
Phase-one registration opened in September 2026 for producers and retailer return points, with phase two planned from January 2027. An ordinary hospitality business is not required to register simply because it serves drinks.
Some hospitality businesses may need to register with Exchange for Change for collection and deposit reimbursement. A voluntary public return point is another separate role. Check the current Exchange for Change hospitality guidance against the activity your venue will carry out.
Check older stock before setting your launch plan
In its 30 September 2026 update, Exchange for Change said finished products manufactured and filled before 1 October 2027 would remain outside DRS and could continue to be sold after launch in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. It said possible extra flexibility for older packaging linked to pre-launch orders was still subject to regulator agreement, and that Welsh arrangements would follow.
The England and Northern Ireland regulations as originally made use a different test: whether the drink was first supplied in the UK before launch. Until the final transition position is clear, check updated legislation and regulator guidance with your suppliers before deciding how to manage older stock. The manufacturing date alone should not become the basis of your stock run-down plan.
Keep ordinary waste duties in view
DRS will provide a deposit and return route for eligible drinks containers. It will not replace Simpler Recycling workplace duties or decide whether packaging extended producer responsibility applies to an organisation. Keep ordinary waste arrangements on the plan and use the separate packaging EPR and Simpler Recycling guidance for those obligations.
Plan now, confirm before launch
| Plan now | Confirm before launch |
|---|---|
| Audit stock formats and countries of sale | Final treatment of legacy stock |
| Map on-site, takeaway and uncertain sales | Whether and how the venue needs to register |
| Estimate deposit exposure from eligible volumes | Accepted container condition and storage specification |
| Identify storage constraints and information owners | Collection route, timing, volumes and reimbursement timing |
| Compile supplier, system, accounting and waste questions | Final Welsh process where relevant, plus customer information and staff instructions |
Frequently asked questions
Does every pub need to register with Exchange for Change now?
No. Phase one covers producers and retailer return points, while some hospitality businesses may need to register for collection and reimbursement. Check your venue’s role and the latest guidance.
Should we change our EPOS system now?
Do not assume an upgrade is mandatory. Ask whether the current system can distinguish deposit information and on-site from takeaway routes, then wait for confirmed requirements before committing to a change.
Can we keep selling older stock after 1 October 2027?
Exchange for Change’s September 2026 update says finished products manufactured and filled before launch can continue to be sold in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Because the regulations as originally made use a different test, check the final legal and regulator position before relying on that rule.
Do DRS preparations replace our normal recycling arrangements?
No. DRS, Simpler Recycling and packaging EPR address different responsibilities. Continue to manage existing workplace-waste duties while preparing the separate DRS route.
Turn the audit into a question list
Begin with stock formats and sales routes, then record questions for Exchange for Change, system and accounting providers, and your waste contractor. Champers customers can discuss affected stock and future supplier communications with the team.
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