'20P PLAN UNWORKABLE & DOOMED': 1 in 3 distillers face sales ban

Wary whisky firms fail to sign up to bottle deposit scheme

A THIRD of Scotland's whisky distillers won't be able to sell their products here after they failed to sign up for a controversial recycling scheme.

Businesses had until March 1 to register for the deposit return scheme (DRS), which will charge customers a refundable 20p for every single-use glass or plastic drinks container they buy.

Nicola Sturgeon yesterday vowed to press on with the planned launch of the initiative in August despite fewer than 700 drinks firms having signed up well below the 4500 expected.

Drinks companies face being unable to sell their products in Scotland if not registered.