CSNA calls for a level playing pitch for proposed ‘latte levy’
Vincent Jennings, CEO of The Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association is calling for a level playing field for proposed ‘latte levy’ (Photograph: Patrick Browne)
With an estimated 22,000 cups of tea and coffee sold per hour and a proposed tax on these cups of up to 25 cents per unit, the CSNA is gravely concerned about the potential impact of a 'latte levy' on c-store retailers
Print14 November 2019
Minister Bruton’s recent announcement to levy single use plastics, including cups and take away packaging has caused Vincent Jennings, CEO of CSNA to call for a level playing pitch.
“We are laying down a very clear marker to the government that we will not allow it to be anything but a consistent application by all obligated parties,” said Jennings.
While the CEO pointed out that retailers are fully committed to their corporate social responsibility and the protection of our environment, he added that “they cannot become revenue collectors for the state without proper thought and provisions being put in place by that same government in this regard”.
The CSNA is concerned about whether the measure will be implemented fairly, “with stallholders, pop-up vendors, takeaways and other bricks and mortar outlets not applying this levy as diligently as convenience retailers.
“This is an obvious shortfall of the existing plastic bag tariff and a certainty to follow suit should this poorly thought out ‘latte levy’ be put in place,” Jennings said.
With an estimated 22,000 cups of tea and coffee sold per hour and a proposed tax on these cups of up to 25 cents per unit, the measure could have a significant impact on convenience retailers.
Retailers nationwide are already rewarding customers who bring their own reusable cup into their stores each day. In addition to this, they are already paying costly Repak fees.
Many single use plastic cups on the market are biodegradable. However, without the proper infrastructure in place by the local authorities to collect this as refuse, it appears much of these biodegradable cups are currently ending up in landfill.
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