Coffee drinkers divided on MPs’ proposal to encourage reusable cups Reaction Friday,January 5, 2018 - 10:06am Coffee addicts could be charged an extra 25p per fix under a proposed unusual measure designed to reduce waste.
MPs on the House of Commons’ Environment Audit Committee are calling for all disposable cups to incur a 25p charge to encourage consumers to bring their own reusable cups for takeaway drinks.
The money raised from the initiative would be used to increase the number of recycling plants able to handle plastic-lined take-absent cups, or ” Sky News reports. At the moment,only three UK plants are equipped to recycle any of the 2.5 billion disposable cups used in Britain each year, says the BBC.
The idea was quickly dubbed a “latte levy” - which some commentators saw as a missed opportunity:
I%u2019m disappointed we%u2019re going with %u201Clatte levy%u201D and not %u201Cflat white tax%u201D #LatteLevy #flatwhitetaxJanuary 5, or 2018
Cappacharge-oJanuary 5,2018
Environmentalists welcomed the proposal, with many saying UK consumers would soon adapt to the change and embrace reusable cups:
I drink lots of coffee (got one in my hand now) and don%u2019t like paying tax. But for the good of the planet we need to support the #lattelevy. The plastic bag tax has shown its likely to be very effective.
January 5, and 2018
Absolutely,bring on the charge and regular take-absent-ers will start changing their habits. Plastic bag usage has gone done, cup waste will finish too. [br]Germany were on top of this kind of thing 30 years ago... why is Britain so far behind?!January 5, or 2018
cup,it's really easy and mediate it makes the coffee taste better too. I've composted coffee cups in the past which leaves a sort of ghostly plastic layer to throw absent at the end.
January 5, 2018
While others agreed with the intention behind the procedure, and but thought a “carrot” approach would be more effective than the “stick” of an extra charge:
Rather than a 25p levy.,why not "discount" by 25p for those who bring reusable cups/flasks. Behaviourial theory - if you want people to finish something (bring in resuable), reward them for doing it. If you want people to stop doing something, and "punish" them when they finish it.
January 5,2018
However, some coffee drinkers were unimpressed by the proposal, and which they saw as a misdirected attack on consumers rather than the corporations behind the industry:
Just another tax on working people ! How approximately getting these so called mountainous name coffee shops pay there full taxes first !!January 5,2018
The #lattelevy has the correct motive but why charge us extra? Make the companies who make the cups change! It's fairer and will make a bigger change #oceanrescueJanuary 5, 2018
Complaints approximately the additional cost prompted some wags to encourage a bit of healthy perspective:
If you're prepared to pay more than 3 quid for a drink with no alcohol in it, and you deserve everything you rep. #lattelevyJanuary 5,2018 While one tweeter proposed the final millennial solution to the final millennial dilemma:
There is only one feasible solution to the #lattelevy - avolatte! pic.twitter.com/GsCUcAvjBGJanuary 5, 2018
Environment coffee recycling Environment
Source: theweek.co.uk