Scotland's 25p single-use cup charge: where it stands, and which events would be exempt

Every few months a venue in Scotland asks whether the coffee cup charge has started. The short answer, as of the date this article was checked, is no. The longer answer explains why the question keeps coming back, and what a venue running events north of the border can do while it waits.

The decision, in 2022

On 31 March 2022 the Scottish Government announced that mandatory charges on coffee cups and other single-use disposable beverage containers would be introduced. An Expert Panel had recommended an initial minimum price of between 20 and 25 pence per cup, and the charge was expected to come into effect during the course of that parliament. The then Circular Economy Minister described single-use coffee cups as a classic example of the throwaway culture and said a small charge can be hugely effective in encouraging people to switch to a reusable alternative. An advisory group of manufacturers, retailers, consumer groups, environmental organisations and academics was to shape the plans.

The proposal, in 2024

The consultation followed on 22 August 2024. It proposed a 25p minimum charge on all single-use drinks cups when a drink is bought, regardless of material, which brings paper, plastic, compostable and bio-based cups all into scope. The figures behind it: an estimated 388 million single-use cups used in Scotland in 2021 to 2022, creating 5,400 tonnes of waste. The consultation ran until 14 November 2024.

The exemptions are the part that matters for events. The government's release named schools, and free drinks in hospital or care settings. Zero Waste Scotland's page on the consultation lists the others: drinks bought from a vending machine, and situations where a reusable cup is not an alternative option, giving the example of large-scale events where for safety reasons reusable cups are not permitted.

That last exemption cuts the other way for most events. Where reusable cups are permitted, and at a festival bar they usually are, the charge on any single-use cup would apply, and the reusable cup is the way round it.

The timetable that was set

The partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment published with the consultation stated the intention plainly: the Scottish Government has indicated its intention to implement the charge by 2025, meaning regulations to require the charge to be levied by suppliers will be made by the end of 2025, with the commencement date to be settled with stakeholders.

Where it stands, checked on 1 September 2026

The analysis of consultation responses was published on 12 June 2025. Zero Waste Scotland's page records the consultation as closed and gives no next steps.

On 1 September 2026 we searched Scottish Statutory Instruments on legislation.gov.uk for beverage cups. The search returned no results. On that basis, the end of 2025 deadline in the impact assessment passed without regulations that we could find, and the charge is not in force. This is the paragraph in this article most likely to go out of date, which is why it carries its check date.

What a venue can do now

Nothing about the delay changes the direction. A charge on single-use cups, when it comes, is a charge a venue with reusables does not pay and does not have to explain to customers.

For hot drinks, the reusable coffee cups on this site are the format cafes, offices and event caterers use for that purpose. For bars, the reusable event cups do the same job for cold drinks, and a venue that does not want to own stock can hire cups with washing and collection handled. For a one-day event that needs single-use for a reason, the paper festival cups are the option, and under the 2024 proposal they would carry the charge like any other single-use cup.

We will update this article when the position moves.