AfD's Bid for Higher Deposit on Beer Crates Fails - Bavaria rejects AfD's push to double bottle and crate deposit fees

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has failed to push through a motion in Bavaria's state parliament to raise deposits on reusable bottles and drink crates. The proposal, which sought to double fees on glass bottles and increase crate deposits to €5, faced opposition from all major parties. Critics dismissed the plan as poorly thought out and ineffective.

AfD's motion called for a deposit hike on glass reusable bottles from 8 to 25 cents and on drink crates from €1.50 to €5. The party argued that higher fees would cut littering in city centres and reduce injuries from broken glass. Harald Meußgeier (AfD) also claimed that falling return rates were costing Bavarian breweries 200 million bottles and one million crates each year.

However, the Association of Private Breweries in Bavaria distanced itself from the proposal before the vote, despite AfD citing its support. The CSU labelled the plan as mere 'symbolic politics,' while the Greens called it 'unsocial' and poorly designed. Laura Weber (Greens) criticised the AfD for framing higher deposits as a solution to pensioner poverty, calling the idea 'bottom-of-the-barrel.' Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) had already rejected similar federal proposals in February 2026, warning that deposit increases would weaken the reusable system without environmental benefits. Neither the CSU, Free Voters, SPD, nor Greens backed the motion, leaving the AfD's push without support.

The AfD's bid to raise deposit fees in Bavaria has collapsed after failing to win any cross-party backing. The federal government has also ruled out nationwide increases, leaving current deposit levels unchanged. Breweries and environmental groups now face no immediate pressure to adjust their systems.