Petition calls on UK government to introduce 5p charge on plastic straws in pubs

A petition calling on pubs to charge punters 5p for using plastic straws has passed 10,000 signatures, after scores of hospitality firms have banned them from their own venues in a bid to cut waste.

The petition, which was launched by environmental campaign group Final Straw, said that charging customers for straws would mean that serves could only hand out straws on request, which could “dramatically reduce waste.”

“Almost every piece of plastic ever produced still exists today,” the petition says. “Most single-use plastic straws are discarded, often winding up in landfill, or contributing to the 8 million tons of plastic entering the sea every year.”

The petition passed 10,000 signatures on Saturday evening, meaning the UK Government is required to respond to calls for restrictions in pubs and bars.

The news comes after several bar, pub and hotel chains have banned plastic straws from their own venues.

Earlier this month, Marriott announced it will remove all plastic straws from its 60 UK hotels.

London’s Grosvenor House, W, Park Tower, Sheraton Grand, St Pancras Renaissance and Le Meridian hotels will all take part in the initiative.

Michel Miserez, Marriott International’s UK vice president, said: “Our UK hotels used 300,000 straws last year.  By removing plastic straws from our hotels in the UK we are making a small but significant step in playing our part in reducing the volume of plastic that damages our environment and wildlife.”

Meanwhile Ei Group, Be At One, All Bar One, Wagamama and JD Wetherspoon have all pledged to remove plastic straws from their sites in recent months.

Final Straw’s campaign is inspired by the 5p charge on plastic carrier bags in England which was introduced in October 2015.

“Every year 100,000 marine mammals and turtles are killed by plastic pollution,” read a post on Final Straw’s Facebook page. “Every year 1 million seabirds die as a result of our carelessness when it comes to plastic waste.”

“Following the introduction of the 5p charge on plastic carrier bags in England, usage fell by 85% in just 6 months. We can achieve the same with plastic straws.”

However, as reported by the Morning Advertiser, many industry leaders are reluctant to back any initiative which would force consumers to pay more for their drink

Oakman Inns chief executive Peter-Borg Neal said that he would not support “anything that might introduce another avenue for taxation in our already horrendously over-taxed sector.

“In any case, it would be difficult to police” he added, “and is certainly not an alternative to recyclable straws as they are less than a penny each.”

Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), told the drinks business: “Voluntary action to remove plastic straws and offer environmentally alternatives is preferable to legislation or new taxes.”

the drinks business has approached the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) for comment.