German beer consumption has slumped by 7 % during the first five months of the year in the wake of confusion that followed the introduction of new recycling rules in the country. Since January 1, a 25-cent deposit has been payable on every tear-tab can. This meant drinkers faced the choice of whether to throw away the can and waste the 25 cents or to make a trip back to the shop to claim the refund on the empty. Some Germans, it appears, have decided to go without the drink altogether with the nation’s brewers reporting a slide in national beer consumption in the first five months of the year.

02 July, 2003