Trouble brewing for Tweed bottlos
TWEED bottle shop traders are copping the fallout from the NSW Government’s new bottle and can deposit scheme, with consumers already slipping into Queensland to buy beer and dodge extra costs of up to $5 on a carton.
Traders say that since the recycling initiative came in this month, they have been forced to pass on the fees demanded by the NSW Government to pay for the scheme, which is designed to boost recycling and protect the environment.
One Tweed bottle shop owner, who asked not to be named, said not only were independent bottlos and hotel and club bottle shops forced to add the recycling increase on to their stock prices, but they were also facing a threat from the larger chains like Dan Murphy’s and First Choice which could carry the cost and not put the increase on their prices, at least in the short term.
“We have no option but to add the price increase on which will be between $3.71 to $4 on a carton of 24 and around $5 on a 30 pack of cans,” the trader said.
“It will also mean an increase on ciders, premixed spirits, soft drinks and bottled water (not spirits or wine), but the large chains – because of their size – can absorb that.
“For most of us small outlets that are in the suburbs, we have customers who might work in Queensland and live in the Tweed who have told us they can buy their alcohol in Queensland on the way home cheaper. You can’t blame them.
“If we were in Grafton or Lismore, this wouldn’t be as much an issue but because there are a lot of bottle shops close to the border, the impact will be significant and puts us at a complete disadvantage.”
told the Bulletin that trying to absorb the extra cost of the deposit scheme would take out their profit margin. If they did that, their businesses would go to the wall.
The cross-border headache for the bottlo owners is just one more problem for the border town, which is plunged into confusion at this time of year every year with daylight saving, upsetting businesses and families that have to deal with two time zones.
Tweed and Gold Coast brewers now find themselves having to post two different price lists for beers and ciders, depending which side of the border their products are sold, at least until Queensland introduces a similar recycling deposit scheme, mooted for around July next year.
Pickled Pig craft brewery owner Paul Brewer said there were no clear guidelines on what is involved and how he is expected to deal with his product going across the border.
Under the scheme, all bottles, cans and plastic containers will carry a logo indicating they can be returned to designated collection sites for a financial refund.
While consumers returning containers will be eligible for 10 cents on each coded container, the cost to Tweed-based Mr Brewer is greater to comply.
“My profit margin on a carton is about eight per cent and I wouldn’t be able to afford to absorb the additional cost.
“If I did, it would mean I wouldn’t be able to employ additional people to help out over the Christmas holiday rush.”
But being close to the border, Mr Brewer said that until Queensland introduced a similar type of scheme, he would have to have two different price lists for his beers and ciders – one for sales in NSW and one for sales in Queensland.
Tweed MP Geoff Provest, who has been lobbying in Sydney on behalf of the Tweed business about the border disadvantage they face, said he told NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton “that some Queensland liquor outlets are advertising their beer is cheaper than in NSW and telling customers to come across the border for their grog”.
“I would urge any Tweed businesses affected to contact my office as soon as possible so I can mount a case to Minister Upton. It’s another example of Sydney not taking into account the ramification of their decision on areas like the Tweed.”
THEY CAN BUY THEIR ALCOHOL IN QUEENSLAND ON THE WAY HOME CHEAPER. YOU CAN’T BLAME THEM. A TWEED BOTTLE SHOP OWNER