German beer drinkers are facing a shortage of their favourite tipple following the introduction of controversial recycling laws in the country today.
A complicated deposit system for canned drinks and other throwaway packaging has begun in the country, which will see a deposit of around on cans and non re-useable bottles under an environmental law intended to reduce waste and encourage the use of recyclable packaging.
However many supermarkets are threatening to boycott canned beer altogether, rather than participate in what they fear will be an expensive and time consuming returns process, which may even lead to a beer shortage in the country.
According to reports so far, 14,000 shops have halted sales of canned beer.
The drinks industry had opposed the law from the start and fought an unsuccessful battle to have it halted in the German courts.
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By GlobalDataThis week, Jurgen Trittin, the environment minister, accused the drinks industry of being ill-prepared for the changes.
