Red Stripe paying more for empty bottles

Consumers of Red Stripe products are being told that the increase in the price being paid for an empty bottle will not drive up the price of the drinks. Dianne Ashton-Smith, head of Corporate Affairs for Red Stripe, told THE STAR yesterday that "There is no increase in product price".

"Since the deposit is refundable to retailers, the increase in deposit should not lead to a price increase for our portfolio of products. Additionally, we encourage wholesalers to honour the new deposit price, and advise consumers to insist that they be paid $30 per bottle and $840 per full crate," she said.

Red Stripe yesterday announced that it will now refund $30 for the return of each bottle, up from $20. Persons will now get $840 for a full crate that is returned.

"As you know, we have experienced increased bottle shortages over the last two years and especially now with the delays in shipping and increased freight costs, new glass is much harder to source," said Luis Prata, managing director, Red Stripe.

When THE STAR visited several Corporate Area communities, many persons welcomed the news that they will be getting more money for the empty bottles.

"Me feel good cause every dollar make sense, every dollar make a difference," Leonard Wilson, a Kingston resident, said.

Wilson, who owns and operates a bar on Arnold Road in the capital city, said that the bottle shortage has been putting a strain on business.

Retail and wholesale customers have been mandated to return empty bottles in order to make new purchases because of a bottle supply crisis. This led to many retailers demanding that customers leave their empties on the counter after consuming the beverage.

One bar owner said that the increase in the price of the empties may lead to patrons deciding to leave with the bottles after they have purchased a beverage.

"I have to pay a bottle fee fi get the liquor. If they come with 10 crates of liquor, I have 10 crates of bottle," she said.

"And it was never like that, enuh," she lamented. "Them usually come and you buy and get your liquor and dem gone. But now you don't have the bottle, dem nuh wah give it you. Now me haffi have my bottle dem pack up round deh suh because a dem mi affi use them fi buy liquor. So anybody come in here and dem buy a liquor, and mi see dem put it inna dem bag, mi and dem a guh fight."